Ezra Jin, the founder of Zion Church, one of China’s most prominent underground congregations, arrived in the United States on Friday evening following his release from detention. Jin had been among dozens of church members taken into custody during a broad government enforcement action in October. His family released a statement expressing gratitude for what they characterized as a miraculous outcome and thanking the Trump administration for its involvement in securing his release.
Jin’s case represents an uncommon instance of China releasing one of its own nationals in apparent response to United States diplomatic pressure. The case had been raised by President Trump during an official visit to Beijing in May, where Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping was “seriously considering” releasing imprisoned pastors. Trump later engaged further with Jin’s family, including his daughter Grace Jin Drexel, who testified before Congress in November, and pledged to advocate for Jin’s release in discussions with Xi.
Zion Church was established by Jin in 2007 and has become a significant presence within China’s underground Christian movement. The church’s physical premises in Beijing were closed by authorities in 2018, after which the congregation transitioned to online services that expanded their membership to thousands of participants. The shutdown of physical locations reflects China’s regulatory environment, where Christian worship is permitted only in state-controlled churches, though Christianity itself remains a legal religion in the country.
China has intensified enforcement actions against unregistered religious groups in recent months. Beyond Zion Church, members of Early Rain, another prominent house church, were detained in January, with additional raids occurring in June. While Jin has been released, several other members of Zion Church remain in custody, with nine members having had their cases transferred to prosecutors on charges including illegal business operations and fraud, while nine others were released on bail pending trial. Estimates of China’s total Christian population, including unregistered believers, range significantly higher than official government figures.
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