WASHINGTON – A pastor from a well-known underground church in China, who was detained last October, has been released just two months after U.S. President Donald Trump discussed his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing. This information was shared by Jin’s family and rights advocates on Saturday.
Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri has safely arrived in Los Angeles and is now “finally reunited with his family,” according to Frances Hui from the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, who made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter).
Pastor Jin, along with 17 other leaders of the underground Zion Church, was detained during a significant crackdown on religious groups in China. This incident raised serious concerns about the government’s ongoing efforts to restrict religious freedom in the country.
In a family statement, they expressed gratitude for Jin’s speedy release and acknowledged that it likely wouldn’t have happened without President Xi’s direct involvement. They stated, “We hope this is a signal of a positive turn for people of faith in China and relations between our two nations.”
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comments on this situation.
Pastor Jin’s case gained prominence after President Trump mentioned it during his return flight from a state visit to Beijing in May. He indicated that he had raised the issue of Jin’s detention, along with that of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai, with President Xi. Trump noted that Xi seemed willing to consider Jin’s case, but acknowledged that Lai’s situation was more complicated.
Jimmy Lai, a prominent critic of Beijing, was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this year, highlighting the severe crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong.
While many welcomed Pastor Jin’s release, activists also reminded the public that several other church leaders remain imprisoned. Maya Wang from Human Rights Watch pointed out that at least eight members of the Zion Church are still detained in China, emphasizing that they should also be freed.
The Zion Church is one of the largest underground or house churches in China that operate without government registration. These churches often defy regulations that require believers to worship only in officially sanctioned congregations.
The ruling Communist Party, which holds an officially atheist stance, sees organized religion as a potential threat to its authority. Under the leadership of President Xi, there has been an intensified effort to “Sinicize” religion, insisting on loyalty to the party above all else.
Pastor Jin’s daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, shared poignant insights about her father’s mission. She stated, “My father started Zion in order to worship freely in a church that put God as the sole head of our church, like many faithful Christians everywhere.” Grace, who lives in the United States, testified before a congressional committee last November, sharing that she hadn’t seen her father in six years.
Pastor Jin had moved his family to the U.S. after facing persecution in 2018 but decided to return to China despite the risks involved. His courage and commitment to his faith have drawn significant attention both in the U.S. and internationally.
___
Moritsugu reported from Beijing. Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
