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Nine Zion Church Leaders Released as Others Face Prosecution

ChinaAid 25 June 2026

Eight of the nine imprisoned Zion Church Members, including Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri. — Eight of the Christians facing charges.
Photo: Zion Church via ChinaAid

On November 18th, Communist authorities formally arrested 18 church leaders (pastors and other staff members) of the Beijing Zion Church, charging them with "illegally using information networks." These charges were part of the officials' ongoing campaign to target the church and its various campuses. (Learn more about these arrests by reviewing this previously posted report.)

After spending more than eight months in detention, nine of the leaders were freed on June 18th. Their releases occurred after public security authorities exhausted the maximum period allowed for investigative detentions. When the family members of the discharged believers finally received the good news regarding the recent releases, they rushed to Beihai to welcome their loved ones after months of separation.

The remaining nine leaders – including the church's lead pastor, Ezra Jin Mingri – have since been transferred to the procuratorate for prosecution. In the interim, the charges against them escalated to "illegal business operations" and "fraud." At the time of publishing this Persecution & Prayer Alert, the church's lawyers have not yet been granted full access to the prosecutor's files.

Reports indicate that Chinese authorities are increasingly using economic crime allegations against churches, often in an effort to deflect accusations of systemic religious persecution. Further reports addressing the ongoing oppression of our Christian brothers and sisters in China are available at our country profile.

Praise God for the safe release of the nine Christian leaders who were recently reunited with their families! May they now experience His ministry of reconciliation and restoration following their time in detention.
Please prayerfully uphold the remaining church leaders who are still in custody, asking the Lord to sustain them and their concerned loved ones with His unwavering presence.
Remember the many other believers throughout China who are faithfully carrying out their ministry work in the midst of opposition, praying that they will also be further encouraged and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

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

Nine Zion Church Leaders Released as Others Face Prosecution

Eight of the Christians facing charges.
Photo: Zion Church via ChinaAid

On November 18th, Communist authorities formally arrested 18 church leaders (pastors and other staff members) of the Beijing Zion Church, charging them with "illegally using information networks." These charges were part of the officials' ongoing campaign to target the church and its various campuses. (Learn more about these arrests by reviewing this previously posted report.)

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A church in China.
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