Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, previously detained in China, has been released and reunited with his family in Los Angeles. This news came after President Trump brought up Jin’s case during his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Frances Hui from the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation confirmed Jin’s reunion on X.
In October, Jin and 17 other leaders from the Zion Church faced detention in China’s significant crackdown on a single church in many years. This raised concerns over increased government restrictions on religious freedom. Jin’s family expressed gratitude to Trump and acknowledged Xi’s influence in the pastor’s swift release.
“We hope this is a signal of a positive turn for people of faith in China and relations between our two nations,” Jin’s family stated.
The White House did not immediately comment. Trump’s involvement gained attention after his May state visit to Beijing, where he addressed the detentions of Jin and Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai. Trump mentioned Xi’s strong consideration of Jin’s case but noted Lai’s imprisonment challenge. Lai received a 20-year sentence earlier this year.
Activists celebrated Jin’s release but highlighted the continued detention of other church leaders. Maya Wang from Human Rights Watch emphasized on X that at least eight Zion Church members remain detained.
Zion Church, one of China’s largest unregistered churches, does not align with official worship requirements, challenging the government’s control. The Communist Party, atheist in principle, sees organized religion as potentially undermining its power. Under Xi, efforts to align religious practices with party loyalty have intensified.
Grace Jin Drexel, Jin’s daughter living in the U.S., detailed her father’s mission to establish a church prioritizing God’s authority. Despite relocating his family from China in 2018, Jin returned amid escalating risks. Grace shared last November her six-year separation from her father.
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