Ezra Jin, the founder of Zion Church, one of China’s most prominent underground Christian congregations, was released from prison and arrived in the United States on Friday evening. Jin had been among dozens of church members detained during a broad enforcement action targeting Christians in October. His family released a statement expressing joy at his release and crediting both divine intervention and the Trump administration’s diplomatic efforts.
Jin’s case represents a notable instance of China releasing one of its citizens in apparent response to United States advocacy. The matter was raised by President Trump during his visit to Beijing in May, when he reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping was “seriously considering” releasing imprisoned pastors. Jin’s family, including his wife and children who reside in the United States, conducted an extended campaign for his release. His daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, testified before Congress in November, after which Trump pledged to advocate for her father’s case.
Zion Church was established by Jin in 2007 and had operated from a physical location in Beijing until 2018, when authorities forced its closure. The congregation subsequently transitioned to online services, which expanded its membership to thousands of participants. China permits Christian worship only in government-approved churches, though many adherents choose to participate in unregistered groups known as “house churches” instead. The government reported 44 million Christians in the country in 2018, though independent estimates suggest the figure may reach approximately 130 million when including unregistered believers.
China has intensified enforcement against house churches in recent months. Early Rain, another prominent underground congregation, saw members detained in January, with additional raids occurring in June in Sichuan province. Several members of Zion Church remain in custody. Last month, nine Zion members, including Jin, had their cases transferred to prosecutors on charges of illegal business operations and fraud, while nine others were released on bail pending trial.
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