A prominent Chinese pastor who was among 30 church leaders arrested in October 2025 has been released from detention and allowed to leave the country.
Pastor Jin Mingri arrived in Los Angeles, California, on July 4.
Jin founded the Zion Church of Beijing in 2007. By 2018 the membership had grown to 1,500, with other congregations in several cities part of a wider Zion Church network.
Pastor Jin Mingri (center-right) was released after eight months in detention. [Image credit: China Aid]
“We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling overwhelmed with joy,” read a statement from Jin’s family.
In November, Pastor Jin (also known as Ezra Jin) was among 18 leaders of Zion Church charged with “illegally using information networks.”
At least eight of these church leaders are still in detention.
Zion Church is one of the largest networks of unregistered churches in China. Unregistered churches are not legally permitted in China, but many continue to operate.
Zion Church Beijing was closed down in 2018 after defying an order to install security cameras that would allow the authorities to surveil the congregation.
The church continued to operate online even after it was no longer able to meet in-person in Beijing.
How You Can Pray
Praise God for the release of Pastor Jin, and pray that he will continue to recover from his experience. Intercede for those Zion Church leaders still in detention and others who may still face criminal charges. Ask the Lord to strengthen church leaders and all believers in China’s unregistered churches as they risk their safety and security to serve Him.
