China has released underground church pastors after months of imprisonment Censorship News

Ezra Jin’s family says the founder of Zion Church arrived in the US after spending several months in prison in China.

The founder of a prominent secretive church in China has been released from prison after several months, his family and a Christian rights group said.

ChinaAid said Reverend Jin Mingri, also known by his English name Ezra Jin, arrived in Los Angeles on July 4 after being detained in southern China’s Beihai prison since October.

“ChinaAid welcomes with great gratitude the release of the pastor of the Chinese House Church Ezra Jin, who arrived safely in Los Angeles on July 4, 2026,” the group said on Sunday.

Jin founded the Zion Church in Beijing in 2007 and became one of the most prominent figures in China’s pagan Christian community.

Zion Church is one of the largest underground churches or houses in China that are not registered by the authorities. They violate the law that believers worship only in registered churches.

Authorities shut down the church’s site in 2018, but the group continued to operate online, reaching thousands of worshipers.

Chinese authorities arrested Jin and other Zionist Church leaders during a series of crackdowns last year. Eighteen church leaders were arrested and charged with “illegal use of information networks”.

“We really witnessed a miracle and we are very happy,” Jin’s family said in a statement. “We thank God for this great miracle. We also thank President Trump and his administration for their good leadership.”

Grace Jin said US President Donald Trump raised her father’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing in May. Trump told reporters at the time that Xi was “seriously considering” the pastor’s release.

“We know that this would not have happened without the direct intervention of President Xi Jinping. We believe that this is a sign of positive change for people of faith in China and the relationship between our two countries,” the couple said.

There was no immediate comment from China’s Foreign Ministry.

Maya Wang, Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director, welcomed the release but said several members of the Zionist Church were still in prison.

“About 8 members of Zion Church are still in prison in China. They should all be released,” Wang said on X.