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18 Church Leaders Formally Arrested

ChinaAid, Church in Chains, Reuters 04 December 2025

Pastor Jin Mingri is standing with three other people; two men and a woman. — Pastor Jin Mingri (second from right).
Photo: ChinaAid

In October, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities began a coordinated campaign against the Beijing Zion Church and its various campuses, detaining dozens of Christian leaders. (For more details, see our previously published report.)

On November 18th, the Beihai Municipal People's Procuratorate approved the formal arrests of 18 pastors and church staff members, charging them with "illegally using information networks." If convicted, the believers could face up to three years in prison. These formal arrests initiate criminal investigations that will eventually lead to the trial of each apprehended church leader – a process that could take more than a year.

Dr. Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, describes the recent arrests as "a shocking milestone in the CCP's full-scale war against Christianity in China." Zion Church is one of the largest networks of unregistered churches in the country, with approximately 5,000 members spanning across more than 40 cities. In addition, an estimated 10,000 Christians view the services online. Jin Mingri, the church's founder and senior pastor, happens to be among those arrested.

Please prayerfully uphold the lawyers representing these Christian leaders, asking God to give each one of them wisdom, guidance, courage and clarity throughout the court processes.
As a result, may all the charges against the accused pastors and other church leaders be dropped, allowing them to freely resume their ministry activities.
In general, pray for the ongoing ministry of all churches in China – asking that, despite the intense governmental opposition, the message of the Gospel will continue to spread exponentially throughout the country so that multitudes more will experience the life-transforming love of Christ.

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.

China News

18 Church Leaders Formally Arrested

Pastor Jin Mingri (second from right).
Photo: ChinaAid

In October, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities began a coordinated campaign against the Beijing Zion Church and its various campuses, detaining dozens of Christian leaders. (For more details, see our previously published report.)

On November 18th, the Beihai Municipal People's Procuratorate approved the formal arrests of 18 pastors and church staff members, charging them with "illegally using information networks." If convicted, the believers could face up to three years in prison. These formal arrests initiate criminal investigations that will eventually lead to the trial of each apprehended church leader – a process that could take more than a year.

Read more...
Pastors Released from Prison

Pastor Zhang Shaojie (left) and
Pastor Xing Wenxiang (far right)
Photo: ChinaAid

In November 2013, Pastor Zhang Shaojie was arrested on charges of fraud and "disrupting public order." Despite multiple appeals, the church leader was sentenced to 12 years in prison. His family reported that, while imprisoned, Pastor Zhang suffered mental and physical mistreatment – including a time of "concentrated education." With great thankfulness, he completed his sentence this month and has since been freed from prison.

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Government Offers Rewards for Information on Christian Activities

A church in China.
Photo: ChinaAid

Amid ongoing oppression against believers in China, authorities in Shigunhe Town, Henan Province, have intensified their efforts to suppress Christian activities by targeting unregistered churches. Residents have been urged to report "privately established religious venues" and "illegal religious activities," with incentives offered for submitting evidence such as photos, videos and audio recordings. Individuals providing such information have been offered a cash reward of 500 yuan (approximately $100 CAD).

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Coordinated Arrests Against Church Leaders

Pastor Jin Mingri (second from right).
Photo: ChinaAid

Under the leadership of Pastor Jin Mingri, Beijing Zion Church has grown into one of the largest unregistered churches in China. In addition to having several satellite campuses, the church draws more than 1,000 attendees to its Sunday services each weekend.

Read more...