Founder of major Chinese underground church freed, reunites with family in US

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, the prominent founder of Beijing's Zion Church, one of China's largest underground Christian congregations, has been released from detention and has safely reunited with his family in the United States. Jin arrived in Los Angeles on July 4, 2026, less than two months after his case was reportedly raised by U.S. President Donald Trump with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing in May.

Jin had been detained in October 2025 as part of a broad crackdown by Chinese authorities on Christian groups and unregistered churches. His family, who are U.S. citizens and had been advocating for his release, expressed immense joy and gratitude for what they described as a miracle, also thanking President Trump and President Xi Jinping for their intervention.

While Jin's release marks a significant development, human rights organizations and his family note that at least eight other members of Zion Church reportedly remain imprisoned in China. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by unregistered religious groups in China, where authorities maintain tight control over religious practices.