Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri Released After Detention in China

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, leader of a significant underground church in China, was detained in October but has now been released. His release follows an intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, who discussed Jin’s situation with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing. Jin has reunited with his family in Los Angeles, a development confirmed by Frances Hui from the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

Jin and 17 other leaders of the Zion Church were detained, marking one of the largest crackdowns on a single church in decades. This had raised concerns about increasing restrictions on religious freedom in China. A statement from Jin’s family expressed gratitude to Trump and acknowledged Xi’s role in the release. The family described the release as swift and hoped it signals a positive change for religious communities in China and U.S.-China relations.

The White House has not commented on Jin’s release. Interest in Jin’s case surged after Trump mentioned he discussed both Jin’s and imprisoned activist Jimmy Lai’s situations with Xi. Trump noted Xi’s indication that Jin’s case would receive consideration but remarked that Lai’s case was more complicated.

Jimmy Lai, a critic of Beijing and former publisher, received a 20-year sentence. Human rights advocates have welcomed Jin’s release but stress the need to free other detained church leaders. Maya Wang from Human Rights Watch highlighted that at least eight other members of the Zion Church remain in detention.

The Zion Church is one of China’s largest underground churches, unregistered with the authorities, and challenges the requirement for worship in registered congregations. The ruling Communist Party views organized religion as a potential threat and has endeavored to align religion with party loyalty. Under Xi Jinping, efforts to ‘Sinicize’ religion have intensified.

Jin’s daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, recounted how her father founded Zion Church to enable worship free from governmental control, similar to many Christians worldwide. Despite initial moves to the U.S. after the 2018 targeting of Zion Church, Jin chose to return to China despite risks. Grace expressed that she had not seen her father for six years prior to his release.