Update: what’s happening to Zion Church in China – and could more arrests follow?

Thank you for praying for our family in China following the recent crackdown on house churches, including those affiliated with Zion Church. In this update, we provide some further information about what’s been happening – including what prompted the coordinated raids, what it might mean for other house churches in China, and how you can pray.

What is Zion Church? Who is Jin Mingri?

Zion Church is one of the largest and most influential underground house church networks in China. Founded in 2007 in Beijing by Pastor Jin Mingri – also known as Ezra Jin – the church has grown to over 40 cities across China with an estimated membership of around 10,000.

In 2018, the Chinese government officially banned the church the pastor founded and confiscated all its property after they refused to install CCTV cameras in its building – something China mandates in churches. The church then turned to a ‘hybrid model’, with large online services alongside smaller, in-person house churches, gradually extending its reach to other provinces.

What triggered the crackdown on Zion Church?

The crackdown appears to be linked to the ‘Online Code of Conduct for Religious Professionals’, implemented in September 2025, which restricts religious content online unless it is disseminated through state-approved channels.

The charge of ‘illegally using internet information’ that’s been formally levelled at Pastor Jin Mingri and four other believers suggests that the church’s large-scale and systemic online ministry may have triggered the arrests. The government has been increasingly targeting unregistered house churches, which are considered illegal under Chinese law.

“Zion Church stands as a powerful symbol of spiritual resilience in China, boldly challenging the government’s push for the ‘Sinicisation of Christianity’,” shares Shanyin*, an Open Doors local partner. “Through its rapid expansion establishing over 100 congregational sites in just six to seven years, it has built a vibrant, interconnected faith network – strikingly different from the typically scattered, underground and low-profile nature of most house churches in China.”

Sixteen of those initially detained have since been released or granted bail, but 22 people (13 women and 9 men) remain detained in Beihai, Guangxi Province. Almost half of these are believed to be church leaders.

Will further charges follow?

The timing of the charges – aligning with the recent implementation of a new law on online religious content – suggests a coordinated enforcement effort. While the charges against Pastor Jin Mingri and four others have been confirmed so far, the escalating nature of the crackdown – including home raids, asset seizures and legal obstructions – raises concerns that additional charges may follow.

How are other Christians in China responding to what’s happening with Zion Church?

The Chinese house church community is experiencing a mixture of fear, sorrow and solidarity. Prominent house churches have publicly expressed support for Zion Church, including Dr Zhao Xiao, a Chinese Christian economist known for believing that the spread of Christianity could positively impact China’s economic development (see initial news story below). This reflects a deep spiritual resilience and a call for unity and prayer among Chinese believers.

Is Zion church just the beginning – will there be arrests in the future?

Probably. The crackdown on Zion Church – which now being called ‘10.9 Church Persecution’ (because the majority of arrests happened on 9 October) – is seen by many as signalling a broader crackdown on house churches in China. The scale, coordination and severity of actions against Zion Church suggest that other unregistered churches may also be targeted. In fact, other house churches, including Xuncheng Reformed Church, were raided on the same day.

“Since 2018, under Xi Jinping’s agenda of the Sinicisation of Religion – an effort to make religion more ‘Chinese’ – the space for religious freedom in China, particularly for Christians, has continued to shrink,” explains Juliana*, an Open Doors local partner.

“In recent years, house churches have faced increasing difficulties in finding safe places to gather, with many reverting to meeting privately in homes. The cases of detention and imprisonment of Christian leaders and workers have increased. Minors under 18, university teachers and student fellowships are under heightened surveillance and face mounting pressure, with the risk of severe consequences.

• More than 70 detained in crackdown on churches in eastern China

“Persecution in China is continually rising, in both subtle and obvious ways, making the church invisible in the public domain. The authorities are increasingly aware that the online space has, in many cases, replaced the need for large physical gatherings, shifting worship from physical to virtual platforms. As a result, they are taking action—often beginning with the most visible and eminent groups. The ‘10.9 Church Persecution’ incident can be seen as a symbolic one, because of the scale and the international attention it has drawn.

“We will continue to stand united in prayer with the church in China and we will continue to watch closely how things may develop.”

Sean Long, a Zion Church pastor and spokesperson based in the US, said other churches will be targeted as there is ‘a new wave of religious persecution emerging quickly across China’. To what extent might this happen?

“What we’re witnessing is not an isolated incident – it’s a calculated move,” says Juliana. “This tactic has been used by the authorities to control the growth of the church, specifically to those who are unable to ‘obey their management’ (that is, ‘illegal’ or ‘unregistered’ churches). Zion Church, being one of the most influential house churches, was deliberately targeted to send a chilling message to others, to intimidate the broader Christian community.

“We anticipate that the next wave of crackdowns will focus on three key areas: churches with strong online ministries; large and well-structured cross-regional networks and the growing Reformed and Presbyterian systems that have gained traction in China. These groups represent organised, influential movements that the authorities see as threats to their control.

“Over the years, Zion Churches across the country have been subjected to government repression. Pastoral staff and believers have been harassed, threated, interrogated and detained for short periods of time by the police. Their growing scale and network for online ministries and influence is seen as a threat to the authorities. The ‘10.9 Church Persecution’ shows just how precise and far-reaching the government’s efforts have become.”

Meilin*, another Open Doors local partner and an expert on China, adds: “Under the China context, if the church gets too big, too obvious and too outspoken, surely it would cause attention. Whether the Zion Church case will be the turning point of higher control from the authorities, or just a warning of not going too big, we must wait and see.

“Additionally, if more foreign groups make a louder voice on this issue, the house churches or believers here inside China might suffer more. For now, please pray for Zion church and pray for us.”

How else have believers in China been affected, and how can the worldwide church pray?

Alongside the arrests, several pastors’ homes have been sealed, personal assets confiscated, and bank accounts frozen. Legal assistance has been obstructed and the situation continues to escalate. Families of the detained, their lawyers, and fellow believers remain under immense emotional, spiritual and physical strain, yet persist in calling for support and steadfast prayer.

“Dear brothers and sisters, we are now facing a very real spiritual battle,” shares the pastoral team from Zion Church. “What is being suppressed is not just one congregation or one group of people – it is the church in China as a whole, standing at a historic crossroads. We are crying out not only for peace, but for revival. Not only for release, but for the coming of God’s Kingdom.”

Here are seven ways to pray…

• For divine protection over all detained pastors, preachers and co-workers
• For comfort and provision for the families of those detained, and for those whose homes have been sealed and are now unable to access their residences
• For the safety and wisdom of the lawyers, that they’ll be shielded from harm and used by God mightily to carry out justice
• For provision for pastors who are struggling to meet the needs of their families because of the closure of churches
• For wisdom and courage for the pastoral team at Zion Church as they lead through this crisis
• That faith and peace will reign in the hearts of believers across China amid persecution
• For revival in the church in China, and that this suffering will lead to deeper awakening and unity.

15 October 2025

40 people detained in further house church raids in China

Around 40 people have been detained in a series of raids on house churches in China, as the recent crackdown on church activities in the country continues.

Influential network targeted

Between 9 and 11 October, almost 30 pastors and church leaders affiliated to Zion Church – one of the most influential house church networks in China – are reported to have been detained or gone missing. As of 13 October, 16 have been released, but the status of the others is unclear.

The families of several detainees have been given official criminal detention notices by the Yinhai Branch of Beihai Public Security Bureau in Guangxi Province. These documents confirm that Pastor Jin Mingri (founder of Zion Church), Pastor Gao Yingjia, Pastor Yin Huibin, Sister Yang Lijun and Pastor Wang Cong have been formally charged with ‘illegally using internet information’. The charges could be linked to the recently implemented ‘Online Code of Conduct for Religious Professionals’, which was released by the National Religious Affairs Bureau in September 2025.

Zion Church – founded in Beijing in 2007 and with a presence in over 40 cities – is known for its engagement in writing, education, family building, community care and church planting. In recent years, the church has developed a significant online ministry.

Raided during sermon

On 12 October, a house church belonging to Xuncheng Reformed Church in the northern city of Taiyuan was gathered for a worship service when it was raided by the authorities, with 11 people detained. 

According to eyewitnesses, Minister An Yankui was nearing the end of his sermon when some 30 plainclothes officers and more than ten uniformed police abruptly entered the church and forcibly detained him. All believers were ordered to surrender their phones and provide personal information.

Four full-time church staff members were also taken, as were nine other believers who strongly protested the raid. This includes two mothers along with their two children. One of the mothers was later sent home with her child, while the other remained in custody and their husband was called to take home their crying child.

The following day, another member was released, while the remaining 11 individuals are facing 15 days of administrative detention and are expected to be released on 28 October. Families of the detained did not receive formal detention notices until the day after the raid.

The hotel operator who had rented space to the church was also detained on 12 October and released the following day.

Xuncheng Reformed Church has faced ongoing pressure from the government for its refusal to join the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and its commitment to the separation of church and state.

Uniting in prayer

House churches in China have faced mounting pressure in recent months. The authorities deem them ‘illegal’ because they are not part of the two state-approved groups – the TSPM and CPA (Catholic Patriotic Association) – which enables them to exercise control over church activities to ensure they align with ‘Communist values’. Last month, more than 70 people were detained in a major crackdown on house churches in east China.

Following the recent incident involving Zion Church, believers and churches from the wider house church community in China are calling for united prayer, with several influential house churches issuing public statements online expressing their support for Zion Church.

“In our hearts, there is fear, anger, tears and confusion,” says Christian Chinese economist Dr Zhao Xiao in a letter posted online to encourage Chinese believers. “This dark night feels especially long… But we also know that night is not eternal. As Scripture says, ‘The night is nearly over; the day is almost here’ (Romans 12:13).’”

Please unite in prayer with our family in China as they experience yet another wave of pressure and persecution. The country is 15th on the World Watch List – a rise of four places on the previous year because of intensifying hostility.