Chinese Underground Church Leader Ezra Jin Freed, Reunites With Family in US After Detention

The Guardian World · 2026-07-05
Chinese Underground Church Leader Ezra Jin Freed, Reunites With Family in US After Detention

Ezra Jin, a highly influential figure within China's clandestine Christian community and founder of Zion Church, one of the nation's largest unregistered congregations, has been successfully released from detention and reunited with his family in the United States. His arrival in the US on Friday evening marked a moment of immense relief and profound joy for his family, who had anxiously awaited this long-anticipated reunion. This significant development follows Jin's apprehension last October, when he was detained amidst a sweeping government crackdown targeting Christian groups across China. During this period, numerous members of Zion Church were also taken into custody, underscoring the severe pressures and risks faced by unregistered religious organizations in the country. Jin's release represents a notable victory for the internationally recognized leader, and the overwhelming happiness expressed by his family powerfully highlights the deep personal toll and subsequent relief associated with such detentions, bringing a positive resolution to a challenging situation.