Ezra Jin, the founder of Zion Church, one of China's most prominent underground churches, has been released from prison and reunited with his family in the United States, his daughter Grace Jin Drexel told CNN. Jin was among dozens of members caught in a sweeping crackdown by Chinese authorities late last year. Chinese authorities have long viewed Christianity as an unwelcome foreign influence and a threat to government control. Religious practice is legal but tightly controlled and surveilled, with only state-sanctioned churches allowed.
Release After Trump Intervention
Jin's release came after US President Donald Trump raised his case with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing in May. “We are feeling so overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle,” Drexel said in a family statement. “We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership,” she added, noting that this could not have happened “without the direct intervention from Chairman Xi Jinping.”
Background of Zion Church
Jin founded Zion Church in Beijing in 2007. As a crackdown on unregistered churches intensified in 2018, he and his family moved to the US, hoping to appease the authorities. While his family stayed in the US, Jin returned to China as authorities continued to harass church members. He was later barred from leaving the country.
Hope for Positive Change
Drexel said they hope Jin's release will be “a signal of a positive turn for people of faith in China and relations between our two nations.” CNN has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the White House, and the US State Department for comment.
