Pastor Ezra Jin Reflects on 266 Days of Imprisonment in China

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, founder of Beijing’s Zion Church, recently shared his testimony following his release from a Chinese detention center in July 2026. Detained in October 2025 on internet-related charges, Jin spent 266 days in a crowded cell in Guangxi province. He describes the experience as physically grueling, noting that he was forced to sit on a hard stool for hours and sleep in cramped conditions next to inmates suffering from trauma-induced nightmares.

Jin states that the most difficult aspect of his confinement was the total isolation from the outside world, as authorities blocked all his correspondence and repeatedly obstructed his access to legal counsel. Despite these hardships, he credits his endurance to the words of the prophet Jonah, which he says God gave him on his first day of imprisonment. He maintains that suffering for the name of Christ is a path to experiencing true spiritual blessings.

Since his release, Jin has advocated for the eight Zion Church leaders who remain detained. He expresses hope that Chinese President Xi Jinping will extend the same goodwill shown to him to those still in custody. Jin continues to pray for an end to the persecution of Christians in China, viewing the challenges faced by his church as a catalyst for future spiritual growth.