China detains Dozens of Pastors in Crackdown on Underground Church

Dozens of pastors from one of the largest underground churches in China have been detained. This is reportedly the biggest crackdown on Christians by the communist regime since 2018.

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri Detained

Chinese police detained Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, the founder of Zion Church, at his home in the southern city of Beihai last Friday evening. his daughter, Grace Jin, shared this information with the media from the U.S.

Pastor Jin has been under surveillance for years adn is currently barred from leaving China.

The Rise of Zion Church

Zion Church was established in 2007. Despite previous shutdowns, it has grown into one of the largest congregations in China, with current estimates placing membership at around 5,000 regular worshippers across nearly 50 cities.

A New Wave of Persecution

“What just happened is part of a new wave of religious persecution this year,” church spokesperson Sean Long told Reuters, speaking from the U.S.

Grace Jin reported to the Wall Street Journal that dozens of other Zion Church pastors and workers have been taken into custody or are missing in cities throughout the country. Sean Long later confirmed this, stating that approximately 20 pastors and church leaders remain in detention.

Previous Crackdowns on Zion Church

This isn’t the first instance of Chinese officials targeting Jin’s church. In August 2018, Jin previously reported refusing a government order to install closed-circuit surveillance within the church.

Key Takeaways

• Dozens of pastors from Zion Church have been detained by Chinese authorities.
• Pastor Ezra jin mingri, the church’s founder, is among those detained.
• This crackdown is considered the largest on Christians in China since 2018.
• Zion Church has grown to approximately 5,000 members despite facing previous persecution.
• The detentions are part of a broader pattern of increased religious persecution in China.