‘A Miracle’: China Releases Christian Pastor After Pressure From Trump

A Christian pastor imprisoned for months reunited with his family after the Chinese Communist Party released him following pressure from President Donald Trump. 

Read more Seeing Red: Belgium Granted Appeal After Europe Cries Over American Suspension Reversal

Pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin, the leader of one of the largest underground church networks in China, landed in the United States on the Fourth of July and was greeted by his family. Trump pushed Chinese President Xi Jinping to release Jin during his trip to China in May. 

“We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling so overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle,” Jin’s family said in a statement. “We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership.”

Jin and a number of other church leaders connected to Zion Church, an independent Protestant church, were rounded up and thrown into a detention center in southern China in October 2025. In January 2026, more Christians associated with Early Rain Covenant Church, an evangelical Presbyterian church, were targeted by the CCP. 

Jin was accused of disseminating illegal information online. 

Grace Jin Drexel, who has fought for months to raise awareness about her father’s case, previously told The Daily Wire her father became a Christian after the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.

“When the country betrayed them in such a brutal way, it really was shocking, and they lost a sense of direction for my dad,” Grace said. “He then found the sense of purpose and direction in Christianity, and he turned to Christ, and he realized that was the firm foundation that he needed in order to build his life upon.”

Read more Mosque Scare Turns Political Firestorm After Dems Leave Out One Key Detail

In 2007, Jin started Zion after years of theological training in the United States. By 2018, the government had cracked down on Zion by closing its physical location and freezing the church’s assets. 

During his trip to China, Trump pressed Xi on the imprisonment of Jin and Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai. 

“I think he’s giving very serious consideration to the pastor,” Trump said after the trip. “He said he’s giving very serious consideration to that.” 

Lawmakers praised Trump for advocating for Jin’s release. 

“I am profoundly grateful that Pastor Ezra Jin has been released and reunited with his family. I especially thank President Trump for personally raising Pastor Jin’s case with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping and for ensuring that U.S. diplomats remained committed in pressing for his freedom,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the co-chair of Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Read more Seeing Red: Belgium Granted Appeal After Europe Cries Over American Suspension Reversal