The arrest of 30 members of the Zion Church, including its prominent pastor Jin Mingri, has sent ripples of concern through China’s Christian communities. The sweep, which occurred across at least 10 cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, has been described by activists as the largest arrest of Christians in decades. Fears are mounting that this event signals the start of a broader crackdown on unregistered, or “house,” churches, which operate outside government control.
Pastor Jin Mingri, also known as Ezra Jin, was reportedly detained in Beihai city, Guangxi province, on charges of “illegal use of information networks.” His daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, who lives in the US, received a cryptic text from her father shortly before his detention, raising immediate alarms. The Zion Church, founded by Jin, has grown significantly, operating around 100 branches across China and serving over 10,000 followers. This growth, combined with the church’s independent stance from state-sanctioned religious bodies, is believed to be a factor in the authorities’ attention.
The crackdown comes amid a tightening of religious regulations in China. New laws implemented in recent years, particularly the 2018 regulations requiring government approval for public worship, have already impacted underground churches, forcing many to cease public activities or move services online. The government’s push for the “Sinicisation” of religion, aiming to align religious practices with Chinese culture and Communist Party ideology, has intensified scrutiny on all religious groups.
In recent months, several incidents have pointed towards increased pressure on religious communities. Pastor Gao Quanfu of the Light of Zion Church in Xi’an was detained in May, and members of the Linfen Golden Lampstand Church in Shanxi faced prison sentences in June on fraud charges, which rights groups dispute. The September announcement of a new online code of conduct, restricting sermons to licensed groups, further signals the government’s intent to control religious expression.
Zion Church members have reported increased police questioning in recent months, leading many to anticipate a crackdown. However, the scale of the recent arrests has reportedly taken many by surprise. “Zion is the chicken, we are the most influential… it’s to scare other Christians and house churches in China,” stated Sean Long, a Zion Church pastor and spokesperson based in the US, referencing a Chinese idiom to describe the situation.
Despite the increased pressure and uncertainty surrounding the detained members, many in the Christian community remain resilient. “Persecution cannot destroy the church,” Long asserted, referencing historical patterns of revival amidst repression. While the Chinese embassy stated that citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law, it also emphasized that all religious groups must comply with national regulations, highlighting the ongoing tension between religious freedom and state control in China.