By Talia Wise - Posted at CBN News:
Published October 14, 2025
Dozens of pastors from one of the largest underground churches in China have been detained. It is reportedly the biggest crackdown on Christians by the communist regime since 2018.Chinese police have detained Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, the founder of Zion Church, at his home in the southern city of Beihai last Friday evening, his daughter Grace Jin told the media, from the U.S.
The long-time pastor has been under surveillance for years, and he is barred from leaving China.
The house church was started in 2007 and was previously shut down, but has still managed to grow into one of the largest congregations in China. Current estimates have the membership at about 5,000 regular worshippers across nearly 50 cities.
"What just happened is part of a new wave of religious persecution this year," church spokesperson Sean Long told Reuters, from the U.S.
Ms. Jin told the Wall Street Journal that dozens of other Zion Church pastors and workers were also taken into custody or are missing in cities around the country. Long later confirmed that account, saying about 20 pastors and church leaders remain in detention.
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