Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri Released After Nine Months — The prominent Chinese Protestant pastor and founder of Zion Church was freed from detention in China and reunited with his family in the US, thanks in part to advocacy by his daughter Grace and direct intervention by President Trump.

Many Other Christian Leaders Remain Imprisoned — While celebrating this “miracle,” eight other Zion Church pastors and leaders, plus many more Christians and political prisoners (including Jimmy Lai), are still detained in China.

Sustained Advocacy Works — The release shows that persistent international pressure from the US, UK, EU parliamentarians, religious freedom groups, and others can secure results, but it should motivate stronger efforts for the remaining prisoners rather than complacency.

(UCA News) — The release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri from detention in China, and his reunion with his family in the United States on the eve of America’s 250th birthday, is a development to celebrate, described as a miracle by his family.

Pastor Jin, the founder of Zion Church, one of China’s largest unregistered Protestant churches, had been arrested at his home in Beihai, Guangxi province, on the evening of Oct. 10 last year, and spent almost nine months in prison without any contact with his family and the outside world.

His arrest was part of a nationwide crackdown in which 27 other Zion Church pastors and church members were detained.

But while we celebrate Pastor Jin’s release, let us not forget that eight of his fellow Zion Church pastors and leaders remain in detention in China, along with many other Christian leaders from other churches, including Catholics.

We must urgently demand the release of Pastor Gao Yingjia, Pastor Wang Lin, Pastor Yin Huibin, Pastor Lin Shucheng, Pastor Liu Zhenbin, Pastor Wang Cong, Elder Wang Zhong, and Ms. Wu Qiuyu — and all others imprisoned for their peaceful religious or political........

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