Pastor of Zion Church pens letter describing family’s persecution

Chinese pastors, such as the one pictured
above–who is being taken away by
authorities mid-service–and their families
are often harassed by the Chinese
government. (Photo: ChinaAid)

ChinaAid


(Beijing–July 14, 2019) Note: The following is a letter written by Jin Mingri, also known as Ezra Jin, who serves as the pastor of Zion Church in Beijing. As one of China’s large, unregistered megachurches, Zion Church has suffered much at the hands of the authorities. Now, Jin writes of the difficulties his daughter, Grace Jin, is facing as she attempts to travel to the United States for school.

To read ChinaAid’s additional reporting on Zion Church and Pastor Jin, please click here.



First Prayer Letter from Pastor Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin)

Dear Fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am Ezra Jin, senior pastor of Beijing Zion Church. I became a Christian in 1989 and began serving the church the same year. This year marks the thirtieth year of my ministry in the church.

As many of you already know, Beijing Zion Church was shut down forcibly by the government on September 9, 2018. At that same time, my personal life was also greatly affected.


My daughter, Grace Jin, has graduated from University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and received a master’s at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She currently has applied and received an offer from Washington and Lee Law School. She has originally planned to return back to the United States in August to further her education.

However, the border security informed her that she was not allowed to leave the country for the crime of “having the risk of harming the country abroad.”

Last year, due to the increasing pressure with the domestic environment, my wife and my two sons have left China to study in the United States. In order to support my children’s education, I need to sell my house in Beijing. However, I was also informed that my house has been frozen. At the time, I have attempted to go through all the legal processes. They all met dead ends.

I feel uneasy and angry by this disregard of law and justice. This is not only a matter of my personal experience, but also I worry for the future of this country.

I specifically ask you to pray for me and my family, and to pray for the rule of law and justice in our country. May God keep us able to learn patience and restraint in the midst of hardships, and may God open the way for us to lift administrative restrictions as soon as possible, and lead a path for my daughter to be able to go abroad to complete her studies.

May God bless everyone and God bless China.

Pastor Ezra Jin, brother in Christ

July 13, 2019

ChinaAid exposes abuses in order to stand in solidarity with the persecuted and promote religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law. If you wish to partner with us in helping those persecuted by the Chinese government, please click the button below to make a charitable donation.


Give Now


ChinaAid Media Team
Cell: +1 (432) 553-1080 | Office: +1 (432) 689-6985 | Other: +1 (888) 889-7757
Email: [email protected]
For more information, click here

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

Pastor of Zion Church pens letter describing family’s persecution

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

Scroll to Top