Founder of one of China’s biggest underground churches freed, reunites with family in US

Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of the prominent Beijing Zion Church, one of China's largest independent Christian congregations, has been released from detention and reunited with his family in the United States. Jin arrived in Los Angeles on July 4, 2026, marking the end of his approximately nine-month imprisonment. He had been detained by Chinese authorities on October 10, 2025, amidst a broader crackdown on religious groups in the country.

His release followed significant international advocacy, including direct intervention from US President Donald Trump, who raised the pastor's case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit in May 2026. Human rights organizations like Freedom House and ChinaAid also consistently called for his freedom. Jin's family, including his wife and children who are American citizens, reside in the US and had been unable to see him since an exit ban was imposed in 2018.

While Pastor Jin Mingri is now free, reports indicate that a number of other leaders and members of Zion Church remain in detention in China. His release is viewed by advocates as a positive development, potentially signaling a shift in the treatment of religious figures, though concerns persist regarding the ongoing persecution of other individuals affiliated with the church.