US Urges China to Free 30 Leaders of Key Underground Church

The United States has urged China to release 30 leaders from one of the country’s largest underground church networks. These individuals were reportedly detained during a series of raids conducted over the weekend in multiple cities. Among those arrested is Jin Mingri, the founder of the Zion Church, who was taken into custody early Saturday after authorities searched his home.

Background on Religious Persecution in China

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) actively enforces atheism and closely regulates religious practices. Many Christian groups claim the recent detentions represent the most significant crackdown on Christianity in decades. Chinese Christians are often pressured to attend state-sanctioned churches led by government-approved pastors.

International Response

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the crackdown, stating it demonstrates the CCP’s hostility towards Christians.
• Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also criticized the arrests.
• ChinaAid described the campaign against these church leaders as unprecedented and the most extensive wave of persecution against Christians in more than 40 years.

In a statement, the Zion Church emphasized that this systematic persecution challenges both the Church and the international community.

When asked about the detentions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian dismissed the issue, asserting that the Chinese government manages religious affairs lawfully and protects citizens’ religious freedoms. He further expressed opposition to U.S. criticism as interference in China’s internal matters.

Impacts on U.S.-China Relations

The recent arrests could exacerbate existing tensions between the United States and China, particularly amid ongoing trade disputes. There is uncertainty regarding a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Zion Church: A Growing Movement

Founded in 2007 by Jin Mingri with just 20 members, the Zion Church has grown into one of China’s largest underground church networks, now encompassing about 10,000 people across 40 cities. However, in September 2018, the CCP banned the church for resisting government demands to install surveillance equipment.

• Many church leaders, including Jin, were temporarily detained then.
• Jin’s family relocated to the U.S. for their safety, while he remained in China to serve his congregation.
• Authorities have since prohibited him from leaving the country, but the church continues to operate in smaller groups and shares sermons online.

Community Reactions

ChinaAid founder Bob Fu likened the current crackdown to the brutal purges of the 1980s, which followed the Cultural Revolution. Jin’s wife, Liu Chunli, expressed her heartbreak in a letter, recalling the family’s hopes for a reunion after years of separation. Zion Church pastor Sean Long noted that Jin had anticipated such a crackdown but believed it might lead to a revival among Christians.

As various house churches issue their own statements condemning the detentions, the international community watches closely, emphasizing the urgent need for the release of these church leaders in pursuit of religious freedom.