China Must Free the Zion Eight

Pastor Ezra Jin is free and has been reunited with his family in the United States, but China’s cruel persecution of the Zion Church is not over. Eight church members arrested in the same operation as Pastor Jin remain in Chinese custody.

They are Wang Lin, Yin Huibin, Gao Yingjia, Wang Cong, Wu Qiuyu, Elder Wang Zhong, Lin Shucheng, and Liu Zhenbin. They remain imprisoned on charges of “fraud” and “illegal business operations” arising from their ministry, including church offerings, publications, and online courses.

Accounts from relatives and released detainees, including Pastor Jin, paint a harrowing picture of life inside China’s detention centers. Cells meant for 15 people now hold more than 30, packed so tightly that detainees can barely turn over at night. With no air conditioning, the heat is relentless, and many develop severe rashes and infections. Insects and other pests roam freely, leaving detainees to endure bites and stings with no protection or medicine. And the abuse is not only physical: detainees undergo mandatory political indoctrination, are made to sing songs praising the Chinese Communist Party, and are forced to hold painful positions for long periods. 

The suffering does not stop at the detention center walls. They have been separated from spouses, children, parents, and congregations for nearly a year. Some relatives have fled China or remain abroad because they fear arrest if they return, while those still inside the country reportedly live under the threat of surveillance, interrogation, and retaliation. Wu Qiuyu’s two young children are being raised by their grandparents while their father remains outside China and their mother is detained. Elder Wang Zhong’s father died during his imprisonment, without being granted a final visit with his son. 

President Trump raised Pastor Jin’s case directly with Xi Jinping during their May summit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned the Zion Church detentions and called for the immediate release of its leaders. Pastor Jin was freed in July, demonstrating what sustained, high-level attention can accomplish.

By persecuting people for practicing their faith, China is failing its own citizens, and America, guided by its Christian heritage and commitment to religious liberty, cannot remain silent; action must be taken. Xi is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington on September 24. That meeting offers another critical opportunity to confront the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Christians and demand the immediate release of the 8 Zion Church members still in custody.

Pastor Jin is free. Now the Zion Eight need warriors willing to fight for them. Their names must not be forgotten. Their suffering must not be ignored. And their freedom must remain a priority.