Ezra Jin, the charismatic founder of China's prominent underground Christian congregation, Zion Church, has emerged from prison to be reunited with his family in the United States, a significant development in a saga that has seen Beijing crack down on religious groups. The release marks an unusual concession by the Chinese authorities, who rarely acquiesce to international pressure to free their citizens.
Mr Jin's family expressed profound relief at his arrival, crediting US President Donald Trump and his administration for instrumental support in securing his freedom. "We truly witnessed a miracle," they said in a statement, also praising the tireless efforts of human rights campaigners who had been advocating on behalf of their loved one.
Mr Jin's ordeal began last October when he was among dozens of church members detained as part of a broad government operation targeting Christian groups. His case gained international attention, with President Trump raising it directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing in May. The US leader had hinted that President Xi might be 'seriously considering' releasing jailed pastors like Mr Jin, although progress on other cases remained elusive – notably the detention of British citizen Jimmy Lai.
As a well-known figure within China's unregistered Christian movement, Mr Jin established Zion Church in 2007. After its physical Beijing location was forced to close in 2018, the congregation transitioned to online sermons, significantly expanding its reach to thousands of followers. While Christianity is technically permitted in China, worship is confined to government-sanctioned churches; many Christians prefer unregistered 'house churches' like Zion, which operate outside state control.
The past year has seen a heightened crackdown on these house churches across China, including the detention of members from Early Rain church in January and a police raid on an Early Rain gathering in Sichuan in June, where over 30 individuals were reportedly taken for questioning. Despite Mr Jin's release, several other members of Zion Church remain in detention, with some facing charges of illegal business operations and fraud, while others have been released on bail.