Ezra Jin, the founder of Zion Church, one of China’s most visible underground Christian congregations, was released from detention and arrived in the United States on Friday evening. Jin had been detained in a broader security operation targeting church members that began in October. His family stated they viewed the release as miraculous and expressed gratitude toward President Trump and his administration for their involvement in securing his freedom.
Jin’s case represents an unusual instance of China releasing a citizen in apparent response to United States diplomatic pressure. The matter was discussed during President Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, where he indicated that Chinese President Xi Jinping was “seriously considering” releasing detained pastors, though progress on other cases remained challenging. Jin’s family members, who are based in the United States, conducted an extended campaign for his release, including testimony before Congress by his daughter in November.
Jin established Zion Church in 2007. The congregation’s physical location in Beijing was shut down in 2018, after which the group transitioned to online worship services that expanded its membership to thousands of followers. China’s legal framework permits Christian worship only through state-approved churches, though numerous believers opt to participate in unregistered congregations known as “house churches” instead. The country has reported 44 million Christians through official channels, though independent assessments suggest the actual number may reach approximately 130 million when including unregistered practitioners.
China has intensified enforcement actions against house churches in recent months. Early Rain, another prominent underground congregation, experienced detentions beginning in January, with additional raids occurring in June in Sichuan province resulting in dozens of individuals being questioned. Regarding Zion Church specifically, multiple members remain in detention. Nine members, including Jin before his release, had their cases transferred to prosecutors on charges including illegal business operations and fraud. A separate group of nine members was released on bail while awaiting trial proceedings.
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