**Chinese Underground Church Leader Jin Mingri Released from Prison**
Jin Mingri, a prominent figure in China's underground Christian community and founder of the Zion Church, has been released from prison and has traveled to the United States. His release comes less than two months after former U.S. President Donald Trump raised concerns about his detention during discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Jin was detained in October 2025 during a series of overnight raids across China that were described by various Christian organizations as one of the most severe crackdowns on religious activities in the country's recent history. The Chinese government maintains strict control over religious practices, promoting atheism and requiring religious groups to operate under state-sanctioned frameworks.
Following his release, Jin's family expressed their gratitude to supporters and the Trump administration, stating, "We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling so overwhelmed with joy." They acknowledged the role of President Trump and his administration in advocating for Jin's freedom, as well as the intervention of President Xi Jinping. The family expressed hope that Jin's release could signify a positive shift for religious freedom in China and improve relations between the two nations.
Jin, also known as Ezra Jin, arrived in Los Angeles, California, where he was welcomed by the U.S.-based rights organization ChinaAid, which monitors religious persecution in China. Bob Fu, the founder of ChinaAid, celebrated Jin's release but highlighted that many other religious practitioners, including eight members of the Zion Church, remain imprisoned in China.
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a coalition of Western lawmakers that includes numerous Members of Parliament from the UK, also expressed their joy at Jin's release, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by religious groups in China.
Jin founded the Zion Church in 2007 with a small congregation of just 20 members. Over the years, it grew into one of the largest unregistered churches in China, boasting a network of approximately 10,000 individuals across 40 cities. However, the church faced increasing pressure from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which officially banned it in 2018 after Jin and his congregation resisted government demands to install surveillance cameras in their Beijing property. Since then, many of the church's branches have been investigated and shut down.
Reports indicate that around 30 church leaders were detained during the October 2025 raids, which were part of a broader crackdown on religious groups. This crackdown continued into January 2026, with another church facing similar actions leading to the detention of nine individuals.
The situation for Christians in China remains precarious, with government authorities often pressuring believers to join state-sanctioned churches led by government-approved pastors. These churches are required to align their teachings with the party's ideology, limiting the freedom of expression and practice for many religious groups.
As Jin Mingri begins a new chapter in the United States, his release has sparked discussions about the future of religious freedom in China and the ongoing plight of those who continue to face persecution for their beliefs.