Founder of Prominent Chinese Underground Church Released from Prison

Ezra Jin, one of China’s most visible underground church leaders, landed in the United States on Friday evening and was reunited with his family after being released from prison.

Jin, a Chinese citizen, was detained during a sweeping crackdown on Christians in October. His family called the release a miracle and thanked President Donald Trump and his administration for their leadership. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jin’s release is a rare case of Beijing freeing one of its own citizens, apparently in response to US lobbying. The case was raised by Trump during his May visit to Beijing, where he said Chinese President Xi Jinping was “seriously considering” releasing jailed pastors.

Jin’s wife and children, who reside in the US, had repeatedly appealed to the US government and to Trump directly. His daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, testified before Congress in November, prompting Trump to promise to raise the case.

Jin founded Zion Church in 2007. In 2018, authorities shut down the church’s physical location in Beijing, but the group moved to online sermons, expanding its reach to thousands of members.

Christianity is legal in China, but worship is restricted to state-controlled churches. Many believers prefer underground “house churches.” Over the past year, China intensified a crackdown on such groups. Several Zion Church members remain in detention. Last month, cases against nine members, including Jin, were transferred to prosecutors on charges of illegal business operations and fraud. Nine others were released on bail pending trial.