A chilling reminder of the ongoing religious persecution in China has emerged, with the arrest of a prominent Christian pastor and dozens of his church staff and members. This crackdown, amidst rising tensions between the US and China, has sent shockwaves through the global Christian community.
Pastor Ezra Jin, a father of US citizens and the founder of Zion Church, a large underground house church with a significant presence across China, was arrested at his home in Beihai, Guangxi region, last Friday. His daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, shared her family's distress, stating, "It's been extremely shocking and scary for us, but our faith in the Lord gives us strength."
The arrests didn't stop there. More than 30 pastors and church staff have either been arrested or gone missing since Thursday, according to Sean Long, a pastor and spokesperson for Zion Church. Some face criminal charges, including for "illegal dissemination of religious information via the internet."
Witnesses described a violent scene, with police acting on a "wanted list." One female pastor was even forcibly separated from her newborn baby. Long emphasized the need for global church society to hold the Chinese government accountable, stating, "They cannot act with impunity. Our ministers and staff members must be released immediately."
The Chinese government has a history of targeting leaders of unregistered churches, detaining and imprisoning them. This is part of a broader campaign to exert control over religious practices, particularly those deemed "foreign," like Christianity and Islam. Despite this, tens of millions of Chinese citizens attend unregistered churches, seeking spiritual fulfillment outside of state-sanctioned institutions.
Zion Church, founded in 2007, has experienced rapid growth, reaching 5,000 to 10,000 people each week. This success, coupled with the current US-China tensions, may be the reason behind the recent crackdown, according to Long. However, he strongly asserts that Zion Church poses no threat to the Chinese government, stating, "We are not criminals, but Christians. We love our people, society, and culture. We are not a Western political force; we are Chinese believers adhering to historic Christian faith."
The recent arrests have not deterred Zion Church members from practicing their faith. Long said, "We will continue our online services and share the good news of Jesus Christ, no matter the circumstances."
US officials and lawmakers have denounced the arrests, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling for the immediate release of the detained church leaders. He stated, "This crackdown further highlights the CCP's hostility towards Christians who choose to worship freely. We urge the CCP to allow all people of faith to engage in religious activities without fear."
This story serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for religious freedom in China and the resilience of faith communities in the face of persecution.
