Chinese Pastor Jin Mingri Released After Nine Months in Custody

Pastor Jin Mingri, widely known as Ezra Jin, arrived in Los Angeles on July 5, 2026, after nine months in Chinese custody. He reunited with his family following his release, which came weeks after the Trump administration raised his case with Chinese officials.

Jin led Zion Church, one of Beijing's largest unregistered Protestant congregations, before authorities detained him in late 2025. Chinese officials had pressured the church for years over its refusal to register with the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

His release drew immediate attention from Christian advocacy groups and religious freedom organizations. The case had become a focal point for those monitoring China's treatment of house church leaders.

"Suddenly, I was free," Jin told reporters after landing in the United States, according to the New York Times.

The news was not entirely positive for China's house church community. As of July 16, 2026, other house church leaders remained in custody. Christianity Today reported that several pastors detained in the same period as Jin had not been released.

Christian advocacy groups called on the U.S. government to continue pressing China on the cases of imprisoned pastors and church members. They noted that China has intensified restrictions on unregistered religious groups in recent years, requiring churches to install surveillance cameras, remove crosses, and submit to government oversight.

The Trump administration cited Jin's release as a result of diplomatic engagement, though details of the negotiations were not made public. Religious freedom advocates said the case showed that direct government pressure could produce results, while cautioning that many more cases required attention.