(Beihai — Beijing, December 5, 2025) It has been nearly two months since Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, founder of Beijing’s well-known house church Zion Church, was detained in Beihai. His family and supporters revealed that all mail and items sent to the detention center have been rejected and that authorities are treating Pastor Jin’s fasting and praying as a form of “hunger strike.”
Since Pastor Jin was taken into police custody in Beihai on October 10, details of the case remain undisclosed. According to his wife, Anna Jin, an officer named Xie Fei from the Yinhai Branch of the Beihai Public Security Bureau told the family that the task force handling the case “does not allow” Pastor Jin to receive any mailed items, including postcards and letters of encouragement.
“I am deeply grateful for the love and support shown by all our family and friends,” Anna Jin said in a message to the public. She noted that many church members had mailed postcards filled with prayers and blessings, but none have been delivered to Pastor Jin to this day.
Family members revealed that Pastor Jin had considered using fasting and praying to express his hope of receiving a Bible. However, individuals previously detained at Beihai No. 1 Detention Center told the family that the facility treats fasting prayers as “defiance,” and pertinent detainees may be forcibly fed as a result. The Beihai public security authorities have not commented on the matter.
“We pray to God for you, and we fast on your behalf,” said Anna Jin. She added that their eldest son began fasting and praying on December 1, and she plans to receive the baton and will fast “until God hears our prayers.”
Pastor Ezra Jin is a prominent figure in Beijing’s house church movement. Since the founding of Zion Church in 2007, it has grown rapidly, reaching an estimated 1,500 members by 2018, when it was shut down by authorities. During the pandemic, the church shifted to online meetings and small-group gatherings, and its membership has continued to grow in recent years.
Pastor Jin’s arrest has drawn attention from several U.S. government bodies, international religious freedom organizations, and human rights groups. Some international observers criticize Beijing’s ongoing tightening on house churches, arguing that it undermines China’s long-standing efforts to present a more rule-of-law image and softer diplomatic posture. It may also signal the government’s intent to adopt a tougher stance toward unregistered Christian groups.
The Chinese government has not publicly commented on the case.
China Aid Association