After Pastor Jin’s Release, US Lawmakers Urge Beijing to Free Remaining Detainees

By Wu Xinxin, Vision Times

Following the release of Beijing Zion Church Pastor Ezra Jin (Jin Mingri), U.S. lawmakers and human rights organizations are calling on Chinese authorities to free the church’s remaining detained members, arguing that religious believers should not face imprisonment for peacefully practicing their faith.

Pastor Jin arrived safely in Los Angeles on July 4 after being released by Chinese authorities and reuniting with his family. His release followed months of relentless advocacy by members of Congress, religious freedom organizations, and his family.

Jin was first arrested on Oct. 10, 2025, during a nationwide crackdown on leaders of the popular church. Authorities accused him of “illegally using information networks” after the church continued conducting online worship services outside the Chinese Communist Party-approved network of “legal” religions.

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Lawmakers welcome release

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On July 7, the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) issued a statement welcoming Pastor Jin’s release and thanking U.S. President Donald Trump for raising the case during meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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Committee Chairman John Moolenaar said, “Thank you to President Trump for raising this issue during his meeting with Xi Jinping, and to the Trump Administration for everything it did to help make this happen.” Moolenaar also urged Beijing to release all prisoners of conscience “so they can reunite with their families and practice their faith without fear of persecution.”

On July 5, Chris Smith, co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), also welcomed Jin’s release. “His release is a joyful answer to countless prayers and powerful proof that sustained, principled American advocacy on behalf of religious and political prisoners of conscience can make a difference,” Smith said. He added that the same efforts should continue on behalf of Zion Church’s remaining detainees as well as “many others imprisoned across China from different religious communities, including Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners.”

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also praised the development, writing on X that Trump’s decision to raise Jin’s case with Xi earlier this year deserves commendation. “Seeing this devout and faithful believer regain his freedom is truly a treasure of Heaven,” Pence wrote.

Reunited after months of uncertainty

Pastor Jin’s daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, thanked supporters shortly after her father’s arrival in the United States. “We truly witnessed a miracle and are filled with indescribable joy,” she wrote. Jin’s wife, Anna Liu, later published a public letter thanking “everyone who extended a helping hand at this critical moment.”

She also expressed appreciation to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the 44 members of Congress who publicly advocated for Jin’s release, journalists who covered the case, and “President Xi” for personally taking an interest in the matter.

According to ChinaAid, Chinese officials who escorted Pastor Jin to his departing flight described the release as a humanitarian arrangement reached following discussions between U.S. and Chinese authorities. Jin’s family also said the release would “not have been possible” without Xi’s direct approval after President Trump said he had “directly” brought up the issue with the Chinese leader.

8 members remain detained

Though Pastor Jin has been released, eight members of Beijing Zion Church remain in Chinese custody. The church, known as one of China’s largest and best-known unregistered Protestant congregations, became the target of a government crackdown in 2025. Authorities formally arrested 18 church leaders and staff on charges related to alleged misuse of information networks.

Nine individuals were released on bail pending trial on June 18. With Pastor Jin’s release, eight church members remain detained. Anna Liu, Jin’s wife, urged supporters to continue advocating for the remaining detainees, naming Yin Huibin, Gao Yingjia, Wang Lin, Liu Zhenbin, Lin Shucheng, Wang Cong, Wu Qiuyu, and Wang Zhong.

Relatives of those still imprisoned say they remain deeply concerned about their loved ones’ physical and emotional well-being. Yang Jun, whose wife Wu Qiuyu remains detained, said she has experienced health problems while in custody. He said authorities had previously refused to deliver books sent by family members but later allowed her to receive a Bible and other reading materials.

Meanwhile, Su Ziming, wife of detained pastor Wang Lin, said her husband has lost nearly 30 pounds because of poor prison nutrition and has experienced heart-related symptoms, including chest discomfort, dizziness, and palpitations.

According to Su, prosecutors have added fraud charges against Wang based on church offerings. Quoting a letter from prison, she said Wang rejected the allegation, writing, “This is not merely a denial of one individual or one group, but a denial of Christianity’s two-thousand-year tradition and the faith itself.”

Calls for religious freedom

Several international human rights organizations welcomed Pastor Jin’s release while urging Beijing to free the remaining Zion Church detainees. Human Rights in China said Pastor Jin’s release represented “a landmark development in the long struggle for religious freedom in China,” but emphasized that the Zion Church case is far from over.

Freedom House likewise called on Chinese authorities to release all individuals imprisoned solely for practicing their faith. Brian Tronic, who leads Freedom House’s Political Prisoners Initiative, said, “We call on the Chinese authorities to release all those detained simply for practicing their faith, end their brutal repression of religious belief, and free the many political prisoners still behind bars.”

Families of the remaining detainees echoed that appeal, urging authorities to “immediately release” those still imprisoned and allow them to reunite with their loved ones after months of unlawful detention.