China's Latest Crackdown on Underground Churches Sparks Global Concern.

In a shocking move, Chinese authorities have detained Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of the influential Zion Church network, alongside at least 30 other church leaders and members in a sweeping crackdown on underground Christian networks. This recent wave of arrests, which took place across multiple cities including Beijing and Shanghai, marks a significant escalation in the Chinese government's ongoing campaign against unregistered "house churches".

The Arrests and Accusations

Pastor Jin, taken from Beihai city in Guangxi province, is currently being held at Beihai Number Two Prison on accusations of "illegal use of information networks". His daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, who lives in the United States, revealed that the family realized something was wrong after receiving a message from her father asking for prayers for another pastor who had gone missing in Shenzhen. Hours later, her mother informed her that Jin himself could no longer be reached.

Global Reaction and Concerns

Rights groups and Christian advocacy organizations are sounding the alarm, warning that this crackdown signals a new phase of religious repression in China. Corey Jackson of the Luke Alliance described the scale and coordination of the raids as "unprecedented," cautioning that other underground churches could face similar treatment. US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Vice President Mike Pence, have condemned the crackdown, calling on Beijing to release the detained church leaders and respect religious freedom.

Zion Church's History of Perseverance

Zion Church, founded in Beijing in 2007, has long been a prominent independent congregation, drawing thousands of worshippers across over 100 branches nationwide. Despite its forced closure in 2018, the church has continued to operate through a "hybrid model" combining online sermons with small in-person gatherings. Pastor Sean Long, a Zion Church spokesperson now based in the US, described the latest arrests as a "systematic roundup" intended to intimidate other Christian groups.

The Future of Underground Churches

As the crackdown continues, Zion's followers remain resolute, citing historical examples of persecution leading to revival. "Persecution cannot destroy the church," said Pastor Long. "If you look back to history, where there is repression, there's revival." With the church's leaders detained, overseas pastors, including Long, will continue to shepherd Zion Church's members.

What do you think the international community can do to support China's underground churches? How might this crackdown impact China's global reputation on human rights?

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