Ezra Jin
Ezra Jin, a pastor of an underground Christian church that is taking China by storm, has been freed in what his family has described as a “miracle.”
The release of Jin, whose Zion Church gained 10,000 members without being registered with the government and moved meetings to more than 100 locations across 40 cities after becoming a target of the Chinese Communist Party, happened on July 3.
A Free Press report said he had been arrested and jailed last fall as part of a CCP crackdown on Christians in China.
Some two dozen pastors and workers from Zion Church were arrested, although some later were released.
A Washington Stand report said Jin spent 266 days in prison for his faith.
He was reunited just days ago in Los Angeles with his wife, Anna Liu, and daughter and son-in-law, Grace and Bill Drexel.
“We are feeling so overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle,” the Drexels wrote to the Free Press in a statement.
It was President Donald Trump who personally raised the problem of jailed Christians with Chinese chief Xi Jinping during a summit last May, and confirmed Xi was giving Jin’s case serious consideration.
The arrests had triggered increased criticism from around the world for China’s penchant for arresting and jailing Christians.
The Washington Stand reported, “It appears that the Trump administration’s efforts to advocate for the imprisoned pastor were not in vain, as ChinaAid reported that ‘Chinese officials reportedly informed [Jin] that his release resulted from discussions between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and was presented as a goodwill gesture coinciding with America’s Independence Day.’”
“We rejoice with Pastor Ezra Jin, his family, and the global Body of Christ on this remarkable Independence Day miracle,” Bob Fu, founder and president of ChinaAid and senior fellow for International Religious Freedom at Family Research Council, stated. “We thank Almighty God for hearing the prayers of His people. We are deeply grateful to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and all U.S. officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure Pastor Jin’s freedom. Their unwavering commitment demonstrates that principled leadership and persistent diplomacy can make a life-saving difference.”
Zion Church founder Ezra Jin Mingri spent months in Chinese detention after a raid on his home swept up 17 other leaders from his underground congregation, which once drew an estimated 10,000 weekly worshipers. Then, in what ChinaAid calls an extraordinary diplomatic arrangement,… pic.twitter.com/f2of4qoJQe
— ChurchLeaders.com (@ChurchLead) July 6, 2026
GREAT NEWS: Pastor Ezra Jin was freed from prison in China due to pressure from President Trump and Congress. The United States will always stand up for those persecuted by the CCP for their religion.
Watch his daughter’s testimony before Congress from earlier this year: https://t.co/azNUcwEMwM pic.twitter.com/GilyWbskvT
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) July 5, 2026