In the early hours of October 10, 2025, the hidden struggle between faith and authoritarianism in China reached a devastating milestone. Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri - the founder of Zion Church, one of Beijing’s largest unregistered Christian congregations - was taken into custody amid a sweeping nationwide crackdown that targeted over 30 leaders and members of underground churches. For his daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, living thousands of miles away in the United States, the news was the onset of a nightmare felt deeply and personally.
A Daughter's Vigil: Holding On in the Face of Silence
Grace’s anxiety was palpable as calls went unanswered and messages became echoes in the void. Raised with a commitment to faith and a fierce love for her father, she now faces an agonizing wait, hopeful that diplomatic overtures at the highest levels - namely between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping - might coax his release.
Her story is emblematic of the human toll behind China’s efforts to control spirituality. She recounts the pride and faith underpinning her father’s decision to remain in China to shepherd Zion’s growing flock - a group that transitioned from hushed house meetings to a veritable spiritual community spanning thousands, even during pandemic lockdowns.
“I want the world to know he did not leave because he feared persecution,” Grace says in a rare interview. “He stayed because the people needed him. The fight is not just for Zion Church but for the freedom to believe.”
The Historical Context: China’s Renewed Religious Clampdown
China’s fraught relationship with religion is steeped in decades of ideological control. Since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, spiritual institutions have been seen as potential rivals to Communist Party authority.
The state recognizes only five religions under strict regulatory frameworks, carefully monitored by government bodies.
Yet, underground churches like Zion have flourished quietly, sustained by millions seeking solace beyond official doctrines and political oversight. Their growing popularity poses a thorny challenge to Beijing’s vision of a homogenized social fabric.
