Chinese authorities have detained at least 30 leaders from Zion Church, one of the country’s largest underground Christian networks, in what observers are calling one of the most aggressive crackdowns on house churches in recent years. Among those arrested is Pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin, the church’s founder and a well-known advocate for religious freedom, who was taken from his home in Guangxi Province. Established in 2007, Zion Church has drawn tens of thousands of believers across China through both in-person gatherings and online worship, often held in apartments, restaurants, and small meeting spaces. Following the 2018 raid on its Beijing headquarters, the church moved its services online, where it continued to thrive—until new government restrictions targeted unregistered religious groups. The arrests came shortly after Beijing implemented the Code of Conduct for Religious Clergy on the Internet, banning all online religious content not sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the detentions, calling them evidence of the CCP’s “hostility toward Christians who reject Party interference.” Zion Church leaders in the United States say the arrests spanned six provinces and included reports of family separations and harsh treatment of pastors. Some were charged with “illegally sharing religious content” online, despite China’s constitutional promise of religious freedom. “This is a brutal violation of freedom of religion,” said Pastor Sean Long, who confirmed that the church will continue to worship online despite the arrests. “We will not stop what we are doing. We will share the good news of Jesus Christ no matter what.” Despite Beijing’s attempts to silence unregistered believers, Zion Church remains steadfast—its endurance a testament to the strength of China’s underground Christian movement.

SOURCE: ICC