Ezra Jin, the founder of Zion Church, one of China’s most prominent underground churches, has been released from prison and has arrived in the United States, where he was reunited with his family. Jin was among dozens of church members detained during an enforcement operation targeting Christians in October. His family issued a statement expressing gratitude for his release, which they attributed to divine intervention and credited to the advocacy of President Trump and his administration.
Jin’s case represents a notable instance of China releasing one of its citizens in apparent response to pressure from the United States government. The release follows a precedent set in 2024 when David Lin, an American pastor of Chinese descent, was freed after serving 20 years in Chinese detention following efforts by the State Department. Trump raised Jin’s case during a May visit to Beijing, where he stated that Xi Jinping was considering the release of imprisoned pastors, though he indicated that progress on other detained individuals, including British citizen Jimmy Lai, faced greater obstacles.
Jin’s family, including his wife and children who reside in the United States, had conducted an extended campaign to secure his freedom. His daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, testified before Congress in November regarding her father’s detention. Trump subsequently pledged to raise the matter with Chinese leadership, describing Jin’s daughter and offering support for her father’s case.
Jin established Zion Church in 2007 and has become a prominent figure associated with China’s underground church movement. The congregation’s physical Beijing location was shuttered in 2018, after which the church transitioned to online services that expanded its reach to thousands of adherents. While Christianity is legal in China, the government restricts worship to state-controlled religious institutions. The government reported 44 million Christians in the country in 2018, though independent estimates that include unregistered believers suggest the figure may reach approximately 130 million.
Several Zion Church members remain in custody. Last month, cases involving nine members, including Jin, were transferred to prosecutors with allegations of illegal business operations and fraud. Nine additional members were released on bail while awaiting trial. The detentions occurred as part of a broader crackdown on house churches—underground congregations that operate outside government oversight—which intensified over the preceding year.
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