“Zion Church, one of Beijing’s largest megachurches, is led by Korean Chinese Pastor Jin Mingri, also known as ‘Pastor Ezra’,” said Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley. “The church gathered more than 1,500 in attendance on Sundays until September 2018, at which point the building was shut down by authorities and the church was banned. Since then, the church has met outdoors and in small groups in believer’s homes, with authorities periodically detaining church leaders for various alleged offenses.” She says that authorities continue to restrict Pastor Jin’s movement. 

Representative Foley says that the August 3 raid on the Zion Church branch in Jiaxing City southwest of Shanghai follows multiple raids against other Zion church branches this summer, including three in Chongqing and others in Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Guiyang. “The August raid is like the aftershock of a major earthquake,” she said.  

According to a Zion Church public prayer letter obtained by Voice of the Martyrs Korea and China Aid, the detained believers and children were taken to the Jiaxing Municipal Public Security Bureau for interrogation. Some members were detained until late at night, with 9 individuals held overnight. 

Among those detained was Sister Zhan Ge, a young woman who was sentenced to 12 days of administrative detention and fined 500 yuan for the charge of “engaging in activities under the name of a banned organization.”  

“The church prayer letter expressed concern that even though police knew that Sister Zhan Ge suffers from depression, five male police officers conducted a brutal interrogation of her,” says Representative Foley. “They handcuffed her even though she made no effort to resist. They searched her home, confiscated religious books and other items as evidence, and ignored her request for an administrative review of police actions.” Representative Foley says that the woman’s family has hired an attorney for her. 

The Zion Church public prayer letter strongly condemned the raid as a violation of citizens’ religious beliefs and personal freedoms, requesting prayer for the church and those who were detained.  

Representative Foley says that while the raids on Zion Church have been severe, they are a sign of the church’s continuing strength after years of persecution. 

“Zion Church was banned and its main building shut down almost seven years ago. Its senior pastor is constantly being watched. Its branches keep getting raided and its leaders keep getting detained. But Zion Church continues to grow stronger spiritually,” says Representative Foley.   

In the public prayer letter following the August 3 raid, Zion Church’s Pastor Jin Mingri wrote, “The Lord reminds us that the student cannot be greater than the teacher; if He suffers, we also suffer with Him. The church has faced the same slander, attacks, and suppression for two thousand years, but they will ultimately meet the same fate. God’s children will surely receive the peace, joy, and victory promised by the Lord.” 

Individuals interested in learning about or supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s work in partnership with persecuted Christians in China can visit www.vomkorea.com/en/china or give via electronic transfer to: 

KB Bank: 463501-01-243303 

Account Holder: (사)순교자의소리 

Please note “China” on the transfer.