Faith
Beijing Pastor Detained as Crackdown Escalates
Faith Facts
- Pastor Ezra Jin, leader of Zion Church in Beijing, was detained by Chinese authorities.
- Nearly 30 members and staff from Zion Church have also been arrested or disappeared in multiple cities.
- U.S. and religious rights leaders are calling for Pastor Jin’s immediate release and condemning the persecution of Christians in China.
Chinese authorities have intensified their campaign against unregistered churches, targeting Zion Church and other faith communities. Pastor Ezra Jin, a courageous shepherd committed to Biblical principles, was taken into custody alongside numerous colleagues.
Families and loved ones of the detained Christian leaders were caught off guard, facing the sorrow of unexpected separation as faith communities are put under intense surveillance.
“One after another, they were also taken, detained. Like, they were saying that there were people outside their doors, and then one at a time they were taken into custody.”
Despite forced closure in 2018 for refusing state registration, Zion Church continued to foster Biblical fellowship through online worship and prayer, drawing believers from across China during a time of great need.
Since 2018, Pastor Jin has endured government monitoring and a travel ban, cut off from his children living in the United States, for standing firm in his faith.
Documents and personal effects were seized during the most recent raid, with families fearing fabricated charges might follow as seen in other cases of Christian leaders.
China Aid has denounced the government’s actions as unprecedented persecution of churches that remain committed to worshiping Christ apart from state control.
“Faith is not a crime. Worship is not a crime. Prayer is not a crime. The courage of China’s urban pastors and believers will be remembered in history as a living testimony that the light of Christ cannot be extinguished by tyranny.”
Global Christian leaders and U.S. officials are standing up for Pastor Jin and pursuing diplomatic action, urging China to respect religious freedom and allow families to be reunited in accordance with God’s will.