(Midland, Texas — June 19, 2026) ChinaAid welcomes the release of nine members of Zion Church who were granted bail pending trial on June 18, 2026, after more than eight months of detention following the nationwide crackdown known as the “10.9 Zion Church Case.”
According to information released by Zion Church, the nine believers released include Pastor Sun Cong, Brother Liu Jiang, Sister Li Shengjuan, Sister Wei Yunfei, Sister An Mei, Sister Zhange Ge, Sister Hu Yanzi, Sister Mei Liming, and Sister Zhu Mingli.
The releases came after public security authorities exhausted the maximum seven-month investigative detention period permitted for major criminal cases following multiple extensions of the investigation. Family members and church coworkers rushed to Beihai to welcome the released believers with flowers and embraces after months of separation.
However, ChinaAid remains deeply concerned that the remaining nine church leaders have already been transferred, or are in the process of being transferred, to the procuratorate for prosecution.
Those individuals include:
1. Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri
2. Pastor Wang Lin
3. Pastor Gao Yingjia
4. Pastor Yin Huibin
5. Pastor Liu Zhenbin
6. Pastor Lin Shucheng
7. Pastor Wang Cong
8. Elder Wang Zhong
9. Sister Wu Qiuyu
Reports indicate that authorities have altered the original accusation of “illegally using information networks for criminal purposes” to the more serious charges of “illegal business operations” and “fraud.” According to Zion Church, attorneys have not yet been permitted full access to prosecutorial files, and the final charges against each defendant remain subject to confirmation.
ChinaAid Statement
Rev. Dr. Bob Fu, Founder and President of ChinaAid, stated:
“We rejoice with the nine Zion Church believers who have finally been reunited with their families after more than eight months of unjust detention. Their release is a welcome development and an answer to the prayers of countless Christians around the world.
Yet true justice has not been achieved. Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Yingjia, Pastor Yin Huibin, Pastor Liu Zhenbin, Pastor Lin Shucheng, Pastor Wang Lin, Pastor Wang Cong, Elder Wang Zhong, and Sister Wu Qiuyu continue to face prosecution merely for peacefully exercising their faith and carrying out Christian ministry.
A Bible college is not an illegal business, and voluntary church offerings are not fraud. We call on the Beihai Yinhai District People’s Procuratorate to respect the facts and the law, immediately withdraw all unfounded charges against these church leaders, issue a decision not to prosecute, and release all remaining detainees without delay.
The international community must continue to stand with Zion Church and all persecuted Christians in China. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, and no one should be imprisoned for worshiping God, teaching the Bible, or serving the church.”
Background
The Zion Church case began on October 9, 2025, when authorities launched a large-scale operation against church leaders and coworkers associated with Zion Church. On November 18, 2025, authorities formally arrested eighteen pastors and coworkers of the church.
Over the past eight months, the case has become one of the most closely watched religious freedom cases in China, drawing widespread concern from churches, human rights advocates, and members of the international community.
ChinaAid will continue to monitor developments closely, advocate for the release of all remaining detainees, and support efforts to defend religious freedom and the rule of law in China.
About ChinaAid
Founded in 2002, ChinaAid is an international Christian human rights organization committed to promoting religious freedom and the rule of law in China through advocacy, legal support, and international awareness campaigns.
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