China Releases Prominent Underground Church Pastor After Trump Intervention

China released Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, leader of the prominent underground Zion Church, after US President Donald Trump personally raised the case with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The pastor, detained in October 2025 amid a nationwide crackdown on the church, arrived in Los Angeles on July 4, 2026, according to advocacy group ChinaAid. The release is viewed as a conciliatory gesture from China.

Pastor Jin Mingri detention

• ▪Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri was detained in October 2025 as part of a nationwide crackdown.
• ▪Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri is the leader of a prominent underground church in China.
• ▪The nationwide crackdown targeted the protestant Zion Church.

Trump-Xi diplomatic intervention

• ▪US President Donald Trump personally raised Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri's case with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
• ▪China's release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri is described as a conciliatory gesture.

Pastor's release and arrival

• ▪Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
• ▪China has released Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri from detention.
• ▪The US-based Christian advocacy group ChinaAid announced the pastor's arrival in a statement.

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