The Context Behind Jin Mingri's Release: 8 Members of Zion Church Still Face Charges

On September 19, 2025, during a phone call between Trump and Xi, Trump came away with a double win, while the CCP’s wolf warrior diplomacy was left deflated. (Image by People News)

[People News] Following the release of Pastor Jin Mingri from the Beijing Zion Church, who has now arrived in the United States, 8 other pastors, elders, and congregants from the church remain in detention. A source in Beijing told Radio Free Asia that Jin Mingri's release is linked to U.S. President Trump's negotiations with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, while the other detainees continue to face prosecution.

As reported by Radio Free Asia, Jin Mingri was taken from his home in Beihai, Guangxi by over twenty police officers in October of last year, with authorities accusing him of “illegally using information networks.” During Trump's visit to Beijing in May, he requested the release of Hong Kong media founder Jimmy Lai, Jin Mingri, and others from Xi Jinping. On July 4, Jin Mingri was released and arrived in the United States. The U.S. New York Times published exclusive interviews with Jin Mingri on July 17 and 20, which detailed the circumstances of his abduction, detention, and subsequent release.

Recently, a Radio Free Asia reporter interviewed a Beijing insider, Mr. Liu, who stated that after several months of detention, Jin Mingri was released as a result of Trump's negotiations. This is the first instance in over twenty years where a leader of the Chinese Communist Party has responded to a U.S. government request for the release of a human rights case.

The last similar occurrence took place in March 2005. On the eve of then U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Beijing, the Chinese government released Uyghur dissident Rebiya Kadeer under the guise of “medical parole” and permitted her to leave for the United States.

One individual was released following Trump's negotiations.

Mr. Liu stated, "For China, this situation resembles an exchange, as Jimmy Lai from Hong Kong has not been released, and simultaneously, the eight pastors and elders from the Zion Church, including Wang Lin, Wang Cong, Yin Huibin, and Gao Yingjia, remain in custody and are facing prosecution." 

According to sources from the Zion Church who spoke to Radio Free Asia, those still detained by the police on charges of 'illegally using information networks' include pastors Wang Lin, Wang Cong, Yin Huibin, Gao Yingjia, Liu Zhenbin, Lin Shucheng, as well as sister Wu Qiuyu and elder Wang Zhong. They hail from various regions across the country and are accused of engaging in online preaching activities. 

Online preachers are facing cross-regional arrests. 

Mr. Liu, a Christian for several decades, told Radio Free Asia, "The recent release of Pastor Jin Mingri is linked to his daughter Jin Dreiser's long-standing advocacy in the United States for her father, along with Trump's visit to China where he requested the release of certain individuals from Xi Jinping; Xi also accommodated Trump. However, other brothers and sisters have not been released. These pastors primarily organized online gatherings and preached the gospel via social media; they quickly gained followers in different regions and were subsequently detained." 

From 2020 to 2022, during the pandemic, many areas in China enforced lockdowns, restricting the public from going out and preventing believers from holding in-person gatherings. Pastors and believers from the Zion Church shifted to online preaching, Bible study, and meetings, with participants coming from various regions. Mr. Liu remarked, "Police in different areas responsible for religious oversight are tracking down the organizers of online gatherings, leading to the arrest of many church leaders, as well as brothers who support online activities."

On April 12, 2020, the congregation of Chengdu Autumn Rain Covenant Church conducted an Easter service online, during which they were monitored by the police. At least eight church preachers, workers, and group leaders were taken from their homes by the police and were released a few hours later.

Online gatherings are now subject to religious control.

Ms. Chen, a Christian from Hangzhou, informed reporters that the main leaders of the Zion Church who were arrested last year came from Hangzhou, Northeast China, and other regions, with police detaining dozens of individuals across multiple locations at that time.

She stated, "They were targeted by the police during an online gathering on social media last year, resulting in the arrest of dozens of church members. Most were released, but the leaders were detained. The police could not find other charges, so they accused them of 'illegally using information networks.' Li Yingqiang from Chengdu Autumn Rain Covenant Reformed Church was charged with 'inciting subversion of state power' for sharing videos and preaching online."

In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has been actively promoting the 'Sinicization' of religion. At a national religious work conference held in December 2021, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to adhere to the direction of Sinicization of religion, guiding it to align with socialist society, and strengthening the management of religious affairs. The official interpretation of 'Sinicization of religion' also includes enhancing the religious community's recognition of the Chinese Communist Party, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the core values of socialism.

The "Internet Religious Information Service Management Measures," which came into effect in March 2022, mandate that any provision of internet religious information services within China must be accompanied by the appropriate permits. In September 2025, the State Administration for Religious Affairs of China released the "Code of Conduct for Religious Personnel's Online Behavior," which imposes further restrictions on online preaching, religious education training, and the organization of religious activities by clergy.

Believers engaged in internet maintenance have also faced arrests.

Mr. Wen, a Christian from Beijing, previously interacted with Jin Mingri. He told Radio Free Asia, "Jin Mingri possesses significant charisma and organizational skills. During the pandemic, he informed me that they were gathering online, which attracted a large number of participants."

Mr. Wen disclosed that in recent years, several groups of believers involved in internet maintenance have been apprehended, stating, "Each time, dozens of individuals are arrested. Currently, nearly all the workers from the Zion Church have been detained, effectively paralyzing the church."

The Watchtower Church, established in 1993, has a longer history than the Zion Church. Jin Tianming is the founder and first senior pastor of the Watchtower Church, while Jin Mingri serves as the pastor of the Zion Church; both belong to the Korean ethnic group.

The two churches have received different treatments.

A Christian named Zhou from the Watchtower Church shared with Radio Free Asia, "The offline gatherings of the Zion Church are now under the control of public security, and they have ceased meeting. The first senior pastor of the Watchtower Church was Jin Tianming, followed by Pastor Xiao Bai and Pastor Fang Xiaofeng. Jin Tianming is currently at home in Changping, Beijing, serving as the church's honorary pastor, but his activities are restricted."

In contrast to the Zion Church, the Watchtower Church still has some believers conducting offline gatherings. The Beijing Watchtower Church holds multiple small group Bible studies each week, with approximately twenty participants in each group.

Mr. Zhou stated, "The Watchman Church still conducts offline gatherings, but these are held under police surveillance. Each attendee must register for every meeting. For instance, when gatherings occur at Pastor Yuan Ling's home, there are five guards stationed at the entrance. If you attend, you are closely monitored; the police are aware of who comes and their names."

In response to a reporter's question about why the authorities enforce a zero-tolerance policy against the Zion Church while permitting limited offline gatherings for the Watchman Church, Mr. Zhou explained that the Zion Church has been rapidly expanding its follower base through the internet, attracting participants from various regions. In contrast, the Watchman Church continues to recruit followers through traditional means, resulting in a declining number of attendees, with both meeting locations and participants under police oversight.

Under the current religious management system of the Chinese Communist Party, Christian activities are required to be integrated into the officially recognized Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee and the Christian Association framework. Family churches that have not joined this official system face restrictions regarding meeting venues, clergy, and online communication. Jin Mingri has already arrived in the United States, but the authorities have not disclosed whether the remaining detained members of the Zion Church have been formally charged.
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