Jin Mingri. Also known as Ezra Jin. Was freed from prison and has arrived in Los Angeles, according to the U.S.-based rights group ChinaAid, but his family issued a statement thanking supporters and expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump and the Trump administration for their leadership in the matter. They said the release was a miracle and could not have happened without the direct intervention of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A 10,000-Member Church’s Resilience

Jin founded the Zion Church in 2007 with just 20 members — the church grew into one of China’s largest unregistered religious groups, with a network of around 10,000 members in 40 cities. It was officially banned by the Chinese Communist Party in 2018 after resisting government pressure to install security cameras at its Beijing property; Authorities later shut the church’s physical premises, but the group continued operating online.

Last year. Jin and other leaders of the Zion Church were detained in a wider security operation. Eighteen church leaders were arrested and accused of “illegally using information networks.” Jin’s family said 8 other members of the Zion Church remain in custody, according to Human Rights Watch’s Maya Wang.

Trump’s Role and International Reactions

U.S. President Donald Trump raised Jin’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit to Beijing in May, but Trump said at the time that Xi was “seriously considering” the pastor’s release. Jin’s family confirmed that Trump had urged Xi to release him during direct talks — the family added that they hope this marks a positive turn for people of faith in China and for U.S.-China relations.

Trump also raised the case of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s national security law. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which includes dozens of UK MPs, said it was “overjoyed” by Jin’s release. China’s foreign ministry has not officially commented on his case.

Remaining Concerns

While Jin’s release is seen as a positive development, religious rights advocates note that many others remain detained. ChinaAid’s founder Bob Fu welcomed Jin’s freedom but stressed that “countless” religious practitioners are still in prison. Maya Wang of Human Rights Watch also called for the release of all detained Zion Church members, stating that at least 8 remain in custody.

Jin’s family said they hope the release is a sign of broader change for religious freedom in China. They thanked God for the miracle and expressed hope for improved U.S.-China relations. The case has drawn international attention, with multiple rights groups and lawmakers monitoring the situation closely.