Ezra Jin Released and Reunites with Family in the United States
Ezra Jin, the founder of Zion Church, one of China’s most prominent underground churches, has been released from prison and has arrived in the United States where he reunited with his family.
Jin landed in the US on Friday evening. He was among dozens of church members who had been detained in China.
“We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling overwhelmed with joy,” Jin’s family said in a statement. “We thank God for this tremendous miracle. We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership.”
Official Responses and Context of Release
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Jin’s release.
Jin’s release is considered a rare instance of China freeing one of its own citizens, seemingly influenced by lobbying efforts from the United States. In 2024, David Lin, an American pastor of Chinese descent, was released after 20 years in prison following advocacy by the US State Department.
Political Advocacy and International Diplomacy
Jin’s case was notably raised by then-US President Donald Trump during his visit to Beijing in May. Trump stated that Xi Jinping, China’s president, was "" releasing pastors jailed in China, while acknowledging that progress on other detainees, such as British citizen Jimmy Lai, was more difficult.
Jin’s wife and children reside in the US and have persistently appealed to the US government and President Trump directly to secure his release. Jin’s daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, testified before Congress in November. Subsequently, Trump referred to her as a “beautiful daughter” and pledged to discuss Jin’s case with Xi Jinping.
Background on Ezra Jin and Zion Church
Ezra Jin, a Chinese citizen, is a prominent figure in China’s underground church movement. He founded Zion Church in 2007. In 2018, the church’s physical location in Beijing was forced to close by authorities, but the congregation transitioned to online sermons, which enabled them to reach thousands of members.
Christianity is legally recognized in China; however, worship is permitted only in government-sanctioned churches. In 2018, the Chinese government reported there were 44 million Christians in the country, though other estimates that include unregistered believers suggest the number is closer to 130 million.
Many Christians avoid government-controlled churches and prefer to worship in underground groups such as Zion Church, also known as “house churches.”
Crackdown on House Churches and Ongoing Detentions
In the past year, China has intensified its crackdown on house churches. In January, members of Early Rain Church, another significant underground group, were detained. In June, police raided an Early Rain gathering in Sichuan province in southwest China, reportedly detaining more than 30 individuals for questioning.
Several members of Zion Church remain in detention. Last month, the cases of nine members, including Jin, were transferred to prosecutors on charges of illegal business operations and fraud. Nine other members were released on bail pending trial.
