China Detains Pastors and Church Members in Major Crackdown

On Friday, nearly 30 pastors and congregants from the unauthorized Zion Church in China were arrested, marking the most significant crackdown on Christianity since 2018.

The church’s founder, Pastor Jing Mingli, alongside his daughter Grace and spokesperson Sean Long, were taken into custody at their residence, according to reports.

Sean Long described the situation as part of a “new wave of religious persecution this year,” noting that over 150 church members have been questioned. He mentioned that there’s been an increase in harassment during Sunday services lately.

While Long reported that the pastor and five members were later released, he presented an official detention notice indicating that Mingli was being held under suspicion of “illegal use of an information network,” which could potentially lead to a seven-year prison sentence.

Grace Jing expressed concerns over her father’s health, emphasizing his need for medication due to diabetes. “We’re worried because he needs medication,” she said. “We have also been told that lawyers can’t meet with the pastors, which is quite alarming for us.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced strict law enforcement measures to target unlicensed churches, including a new prohibition on unauthorized online preaching and any “foreign collusion.”

The Zion Church’s membership has reportedly grown to about 5,000 active worshippers across around 50 cities, with a large portion of that increase attributed to Zoom sermons during the pandemic.

Despite increasing pressure on Christians in China, state persecution is nothing new. Although the constitution claims to allow religious freedom, many unrecognized religious groups face significant challenges. For instance, members of the Shenzhen Holy Reform Church were unable to seek asylum in South Korea last year and risked deportation back to China.

Pastor Cao Yuan of Lam Coming Home Church in Guangzhou shared a statement expressing both fear and an unexpected peace regarding the church’s current struggles. “For many years, we have lived under the shadow of fear, but now, that fear has finally been lifted!” he declared.

Cao further remarked on the situation of the Zion Church leaders, suggesting that if they are imprisoned for their faith, he would join them in spirit. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the actions of the Chinese Communist Party, calling for the immediate release of the detained church leaders and urging that all believers be allowed to practice their faith freely.