Staff Reports
China's crackdown on religious freedom has taken a brutal turn with the arrest of Pastor Jin Mingri and dozens of other leaders from one of the country's largest underground Christian congregations, Zion Church. Authorities detained Jin at his home in Beihai, as well as numerous other pastors across several major cities. This wave of repression marks the harshest campaign against house churches in China in decades. The Communist Party's real goal is clear: control every aspect of life, including faith, and crush any religious group operating outside its tightly controlled state framework.
Under the guise of legal regulation, China accuses Pastor Jin of "illegal use of information networks," a charge that threatens him with up to seven years in prison. His family, including his daughter Grace Jin, expresses deep concern for his health, noting his diabetes and the denial of legal counsel. Despite the Chinese regime’s sham claims of religious freedom, this move strips millions of believers of their rights and demonstrates just how intolerant the Party remains toward independent religious expression. The aggressive arrests coincide with tightening policies promoted by President Xi Jinping to Sinicize religion and root out foreign and unapproved influences.
The Chinese Communist government launched its biggest crackdown on Christians in years over the weekend, detaining dozens of pastors from “house churches,” including Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, the founder of one of China’s biggest evangelical churches. pic.twitter.com/8qwzMJRqfD
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 14, 2025
The U.S. government, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has forcefully condemned the crackdown, calling for the immediate release of the pastors and an end to the persecution of Christians. Rubio highlights how these house churches reject Communist Party interference, instead choosing to worship freely—something the regime perceives as a dangerous challenge to its authority. The Biden administration’s response to China’s authoritarianism on religious rights represents a rare moment of principled leadership standing against oppression abroad.
Despite attempts by Beijing to portray these actions as internal affairs, the crackdown draws attention to the Party’s fear of faith’s unyielding power. Pastor Jin’s courageous refusal to bow to intimidation is a shining testament to the resilience of Christianity in the face of tyranny. History shows that attempts to suppress genuine belief only strengthen it—further proof that the Communist Party’s iron fist policy is destined to fail.
This wave of repression exposes not only China’s drift toward totalitarianism but also the urgent need for global vigilance and solidarity with persecuted believers. As Americans, and as defenders of religious liberty, the unwavering courage of Pastor Jin and his congregation sends a powerful message: faith will not be silenced, and the cause of freedom will endure beyond the darkest attempts at suppression. The struggle of Christians in China is a call to action and a reminder of why protecting religious rights everywhere remains essential.
