(Beijing— November 27, 2025)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, peace!
Since the “10.9” Zion Church case, we have received broad attention and intercession support from the international community and the universal Church. We are deeply grateful. Many brothers and sisters around the world have borne this burden with us, sharing in the same suffering and standing with Pastor Jin Mingri’s family and the 18 detained co-workers through prayer and tangible help. At present, all 18 Zion Church pastors and co-workers remain under formal arrest. Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day, yet another deeply sorrowful day for us. Meanwhile, in Beijing last night, another shocking incident occurred affecting an individual church member. Once again, we ask everyone to continue paying close attention, to intercede fervently, and to stand with Zion Church and its suffering brothers and sisters.
Incident Summary
On November 27, 2025 (Thanksgiving Day), at 19:30 Beijing time, Sister Chang and more than 10 believers were holding a simple Thanksgiving gathering at a rented apartment near Beijing Normal University. This was a small private gathering—only a meal of thanksgiving, with no religious rituals, no preaching, and no formal worship of any kind. Shortly after the meal began, around 20 police officers suddenly burst into the apartment, identifying the gathering as an “illegal religious meeting.” The police conducted a full search of every person present, and forcibly took Sister Chang and several believers to the local police station.
According to those later released, the police interrogated Sister Chang for nearly 10 hours. She fainted several times due to stress, hunger, and exhaustion. She was denied food and water the entire time. She was released at dawn with no explanation. Sister Chang is a peaceful young believer with no history of troublemaking. Her only “offense” was participating in a Thanksgiving meal.
This incident reflects not only the severe pressure on house churches after the “10.9” crackdown, but also the shrinking space for normal civic and religious life. What should have been a warm Thanksgiving became a moment of oppression. We urge the public and the Church to pay attention to this worsening trend.
Intercession Requests
1. Pray for Sister Chang:
May the Lord guard her body and mind, grant her peace, and bring her release soon. May the Lord comfort her in uncertainty and allow her to experience His presence in darkness.
2. Pray for law enforcement officers:
May the Lord move their hearts to treat believers fairly, not regard faith as a crime, and not see Christians as threats. May they follow the law, protect citizens, and respect religious freedom.
3. Pray for the basic human rights of all citizens:
All people, regardless of faith, deserve dignity, safety, freedom of expression, and freedom of belief. Pray that authorities stop suppressing the innocent, stop criminalizing normal gatherings, and stop generating fear. May justice be upheld and victims protected.
Police may take away our gatherings on Thanksgiving, but they cannot take away our gratitude. They may detain Christians, but they cannot silence truth. May we continue to pray boldly and faithfully. Amen!
Zion Church Prayer Group
November 27, 2025