China Arrests 30 Pastors as Crackdown on Christians Grows

China Arrests 30 Pastors as Crackdown on Christians Grows

China’s persecution of Christians has reached alarming new levels. In a series of overnight raids across multiple cities, police detained at least 30 pastors and church leaders,  part of what religious rights groups are calling the largest coordinated assault on underground Christianity in decades.

As the BBC reported:

“The US has called for the release of 30 leaders of one of China’s largest underground church networks who were reportedly detained over the weekend in overnight raids in various cities.”

Among those arrested was Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of Beijing’s Zion Church, one of China’s largest and most influential house church networks. The Chinese Communist Party shut down the congregation in 2018 after it refused to install government surveillance cameras.

“Police in China detained dozens of pastors of one of its largest underground churches over the weekend, a church spokesperson and relatives said, in the biggest crackdown on Christians since 2018.”

The detentions, according to NBC, came just days after Beijing expanded export controls on rare earth minerals, a move that has already heightened U.S.–China tensions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the arrests, calling them yet another example of the Communist Party’s hostility toward Christians who refuse to submit to state control.

“This crackdown further demonstrates how the CCP exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference in their faith and choose to worship at unregistered house churches.”

The United States condemns the Chinese Communist Party’s recent detention of dozens of leaders of the unregistered Zion Church in China, including prominent pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin.  

We call for their immediate release.

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 12, 2025

The arrests appear to be part of a wider campaign following new religious regulations that ban unauthorized online preaching or training by clergy. NBC News reported that Jin, 56, is being held “on suspicion of ‘illegal use of information networks,’” a catchall charge carrying up to seven years in prison. His daughter raised even more concern over her dad’s arrest.

“He’s been hospitalized in the past for diabetes. We’re worried since he requires medication,” Grace Jin said. “I’ve also been notified that lawyers are not allowed to meet the pastors, so that is very concerning to us.”

Zion Church has endured years of harassment for its refusal to join China’s state-sanctioned Protestant association. Despite government bans, the congregation grew to more than 10,000 members in 40 cities.

ChinaAid, a U.S.-based advocacy group, warned that:

“This new nationwide campaign echoes the darkest days of the 1980s, when urban churches first re-emerged from the Cultural Revolution.”

China’s religious persecution continues with reports of the arrest of the pastor of one of the largest underground churches in China and dozens of church leaders across the country.

The Chinese Communist Party must release Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri and other Christian leaders… pic.twitter.com/l3zzdekVpn

— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 11, 2025

The arrest of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri for the crime of proclaiming the Gospel is deeply concerning.

China is the greatest threat to religious freedom on Earth.https://t.co/G7HIPtPsXV

— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) October 11, 2025

The Chinese Foreign Ministry insists it “protects the citizens’ freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law,” but those words ring hollow as pastors vanish into detention and congregants are interrogated for their faith.

Beijing’s message could not be clearer: the Communist Party will tolerate religion only when it serves the state. For millions of underground Christians in China, that means worship itself remains an act of defiance.

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