China Detains Pastor Ezra Jin and Dozens of Staff in Coordinated Crackdown on Underground Church Network
A nationwide sweep targeted Zion Church, one of China’s largest unregistered house church networks, leading to the arrest of its founder, Pastor Ezra Jin, and dozens of church leaders and staff, signaling a major escalation in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) campaign against independent religious groups.
by Christian Dispatch Staff
Wooster, Ohio, USA | October 14, 2025
A widespread, coordinated crackdown by Chinese authorities has resulted in the detention of Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of the influential Zion Church network, along with over 30 pastors and staff across multiple regions since Thursday, October 10. The arrests, some involving violence and criminal charges like “illegal dissemination of religious information via the internet,” have deeply alarmed the international Christian community and raised tensions with the U.S. government.
The Event
Pastor Ezra Jin, a father of U.S. citizens, was arrested on Friday at his home in Beihai, Guangxi region. This followed a mass-detainment operation targeting more than 30 leaders and staff from the independent Zion Church network, which holds services for 5,000 to 10,000 people weekly. Witnesses reported police used violence and worked from a “wanted list,” with some detainees facing criminal charges for distributing religious content online.
Key People & Groups
The primary figures are Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Zion Church; Sean Long, a pastor and church spokesperson calling for international accountability; and Grace Jin Drexel, Jin’s daughter, a U.S. citizen. The crackdown was carried out by Chinese authorities targeting leaders of Zion Church, one of the largest “underground house churches” not registered under state control.
Why It Matters
This is viewed by church leaders and international observers as one of the most severe and coordinated actions against a major house church network in recent years, demonstrating the CCP’s continued commitment to “Sinicize” religion by suppressing any spiritual activity outside of state control. The detention of a prominent pastor with deep U.S. connections, including a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary and family in the States, further exacerbates already strained U.S.-China diplomatic relations amidst heightened trade tensions.
Responses
Sean Long, a pastor and spokesperson for Zion Church: “We strongly appeal to the global church society to hold the Chinese government accountable… Let our ministers and staff members be released as soon as possible. Stop arresting our members.” He explicitly stated the church is “not anti-CCP” and not a “Western political force,” but simply an organization of Chinese Christians adhering to historic Christian faith.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “The United States condemns the Chinese Communist Party’s recent detention of dozens of leaders… This crackdown further demonstrates how the CCP exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference… We call on the CCP to immediately release the detained church leaders.”
China’s Foreign Minister Lin Jian: He stated he was “unaware of the arrests,” adding, “The Chinese government manages religious affairs in accordance with the law, protects citizens’ freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities. We firmly oppose the U.S. side’s interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of so-called religious issues.”
Christian Perspective
Despite the fear and distress, the arrests have not deterred Zion Church members, who remain committed to their faith. Pastor Jin had reportedly anticipated his arrest, telling family and colleagues that persecution could lead to a “new wave of revival” among Christians. His daughter noted his long-standing resolve: “He was very clear eyed about what the government is and what he is doing… he felt that he had to go back with the church and be with the church while it was suffering.” This steadfastness in the face of political pressure mirrors the hope often found in Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Broader Context
China has a long history of regulating religious practice, detaining leaders of both Christian and Muslim groups that refuse state oversight, viewing non-sanctioned faith as a potential foreign influence and threat to Communist Party control. Zion Church itself was previously shut down in a 2018 crackdown. Despite this, it re-emerged with a hybrid online and in-person model, and its rapid growth—from an estimated 1,500 members to between 5,000 and 10,000—is seen by church spokespersons as a possible catalyst for the current, aggressive nationwide action.
The Article was summarized based on the report published by NPR.
