By AFP and Focus | 2025-10-15

Chinese authorities recently launched a sweeping nationwide crackdown targeting the unregistered Zion Church, with over 30 pastors, preachers and believers detained or missing. Authorities have sealed church properties and confiscated assets.

This is the most extensive crackdown on Christians in China since the 2018 raid on Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

Jin Mingri, also known as Pastor Ezra and founder of Zion Church, was arrested at his home in Guangxi region on October 10. He is among at least seven pastors who may face criminal charges for the "illegal dissemination of religious information via the internet," according to a church statement. His detention notice, verified by AFP, cites "suspicion of the illegal use of information networks."

Police conducted overnight raids and detained several Zion Church members and leaders in cities including Beijing. They searched homes and seized computers and phones. Grace Jin, Jin's daughter, said: "It is just a blatant attack on religious freedom."

Nationwide arrests

Since October 9, arrests have taken place in Shanghai and Beijing; Guangxi region; and Zhejiang, Shandong, Sichuan and Henan provinces.

Police released four individuals. In Beihai, Guangxi region, police October 13 blocked lawyers from visiting the detainees. It remains unclear whether the lawyers have gained access since.

"We are not criminals; we are just Christians," said Sean Long, a US-based Zion pastor. "We pray for the best, but we have to prepare for the worst."

Founded by Jin in 2007 in Beijing, Zion Church grew to about 1,500 members before authorities shut it down in 2018. Despite that, it continued online, with Zoom services and small in-person gatherings in 40 cities, which likely drew renewed government ire.

"Sooner or later, they have to take action to further their crackdown against Zion. And I guess 2025, this year, is the time," said Long.

This is the latest in a broader campaign targeting house churches.

In May, police detained pastor Gao Quanfu of the Light of Zion Church for "using superstitious activities to undermine the implementation of justice."

In June, authorities jailed Golden Lampstand Church members for fraud, and a court sentenced pastor Yang Rongli to 15 years in prison.

The United States on October 12 condemned the crackdown and demanded the release of detainees. "This crackdown further demonstrates how the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference in their faith and choose to worship at unregistered house churches," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

False promises from Beijing

While China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, in practice, the state tightly controls worship.

Christians must choose between state-sanctioned churches that incorporate CCP messaging or underground house churches like Zion. In 2022, China banned online religious content without official approval. In September, new regulations further barred preaching through livestreams, short videos, online meetings or WeChat.

Asked about the detentions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, "I'm not familiar with the situation you mentioned," and added, "We firmly oppose the United States interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of so-called religious issues."

Grace Jin and her mother, based in the United States, have not heard from Jin since October 10. "In my mind we've played out this scenario since I was a kid," she said.

"Being a Christian in China, I think you just know that something like this could happen."