China’s Recent Crackdown on Christian Leaders

Over the weekend, the Communist government in China implemented a significant crackdown on Christians, detaining numerous “house church” pastors. Among those arrested was Pastor Ezra Jin Mingli, known as the founder of one of the largest evangelical churches in the country.

Sean Long, a US-based pastor representing Jin’s Zion Church, stated, “What just happened is part of a new wave of religious persecution this year.” He added that nearly 30 pastors and church members have been detained recently, with around 20 still in custody.

Pastor Jin is being held on the charge of “illegal use of information networks.” His daughter, Grace, expressed her concerns about her father’s health, noting that he, along with others detained, has been denied access to legal representation. She fears he may not receive necessary medication for his diabetes.

At 56 years old, Jin was converted to Christianity after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and established Zion Church in 2007. His church experienced significant growth during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic by conducting online services and defying strict lockdown measures to hold small gatherings. He has also supported other pastors in adopting a similar online approach, leading to their increased congregational size.

Zion is categorized as one of China’s underground or “house churches,” a movement that gained traction following the Communist Party’s control over organized religion through a process known as “Sinicization.” Churches, temples, and mosques that undergo Sinicization are required to adhere to the doctrines of the Communist Party during worship services.

While most members of approved religions in China (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism) tend to worship in state-approved venues, millions of Christians still opt to join unsanctioned house churches, even with the risks involved.

The government frequently targets these house churches. The last significant crackdown occurred in 2018, but in the current year alone, 11 pastors from Jin’s church were taken into custody, and several members from another church faced fraud charges in June. Jin himself has been subjected to harassment from security personnel, placed under surveillance, and barred from leaving the country to visit his family in the United States.

According to Jin’s daughter, dozens of underground church leaders nationwide were either publicly arrested or quietly vanished over the weekend. The charges against most of them resemble those faced by Jin, centered around accusations of disseminating unauthorized religious materials online.

In April, China’s National Religious Affairs Bureau introduced new measures regulating the online activities of religious leaders. These measures explicitly prohibit clergy from acting as influencers, streaming live discussions, and sharing sermon videos, which had been vital to the growth of house churches during the pandemic.

Additionally, the regulations restrict clergy from encouraging minors to practice their faith online and prevent the use of AI tools for generating religious content.

Moreover, the government hinted at taking action against what it termed “collusion with foreign forces” and activities related to “foreign religious infiltration.” The Communist Party has a notorious reputation for quickly labeling political dissenters as collaborators, making it challenging to counter such claims.

Bob Fu, founder of China Aid, remarked to Fox News Digital that religious persecution in China has hit its highest levels in 40 years. He argued, “Belief is not a crime. Worship is not a crime. Prayer is not a crime.” He added that history will recognize the bravery of urban pastors and believers in China as proof that even under tyranny, faith continues to shine.

In response to the recent detentions, the US government urged China to release the imprisoned church leaders without delay. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented, “This crackdown further shows how hostile the Chinese Communist Party is to Christians who reject party intervention in their faith and choose to worship in unregistered house churches.”