The pastor of one of China’s largest unregistered evangelical churches was apprehended on Friday, as part of what appears to be a coordinated crackdown on Christian leaders, prompting his family and congregation to express grave concerns for his well-being.

Pastor Ezra Jin of Zion Church was taken into custody, according to his daughter, Grace Jin. Zion Church was formerly recognized as Beijing’s largest congregation. A document Grace provided indicated that Jin’s apprehension occurred concurrently with the detention or disappearance of approximately 30 Zion Church pastors and staff members across various cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chengdu, Beihai, Jiaxing, and Huangdao. Reports also detailed the arrest of dozens of other church leaders in Beijing and at least five additional Chinese provinces on the same Friday.

“They were successively apprehended and detained. People reported individuals outside their residences, and then, one by one, they were taken into custody,” Grace recounted.

Zion Church operates as one of numerous “underground” churches in China, signifying its lack of official registration with authorities, rendering its activities unlawful, as per the AP.

“The stated charges generally involve the online distribution of religious content; however, no physical documentation has been provided to anyone, although the detention slips displayed usually bear this same accusation,” she explained.

Grace stated that Chinese authorities have been conducting a broad suppression campaign against religious figures in recent months. For instance, in May, Pastor Gao Quanfu of Xi’an’s Light of Zion Church was taken into custody on accusations of “using superstitious activities to undermine the implementation of justice.” Furthermore, in June, several staff members from the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen received prison sentences for “fraud.” Grace fears her father might also face a fraud charge, noting that financial records were seized from Zion Church.

Since 2018, Jin has been subject to surveillance and an exit ban, which has prevented him from reuniting with his children, who are U.S. citizens. He has been separated from them for over six years.

Grace conveyed that the Chinese government closed Zion Church in 2018, citing its considerable influence, given its weekly attendance of up to 1,500 individuals.

“Following its closure in 2018, no physical venues of a suitable size were willing to lease space to Zion,” Grace stated. “Indeed, even attempts to rent smaller premises were promptly discovered, leading to interventions that would shut Zion down.”

This situation presented a challenge, but the church adapted by adopting a hybrid model, conducting live online praise and worship sessions and sharing information to facilitate prayer in smaller community groups.

“When COVID-19 emerged in 2020, Zion Church was among the very few congregations utilizing an online model,” Grace recalled. “At this juncture, Zion’s reach significantly expanded… Christians throughout China began participating in Zion’s services, as for a period, it was the sole church offering consistent Sunday online services with music and sermons.”

She remembered that as other churches struggled to transition to virtual operations, her father extended his resources and methodologies to them. This, she noted, allowed him to foster connections not only with other churches but also with their congregants.

Jin’s family has appealed to the U.S. State Department, urging them to demand his “immediate and unconditional” release from the Chinese Communist Party, so he can rejoin his family in the United States before facing further oppression by the Chinese government.

The fate of Jin and other church leaders arrested with him is unknown; however, a U.S.-based religious group stated that “house churches,” like Zion, are “undergoing unparalleled pressure.”

“The Chinese government has initiated a campaign against God’s Church, exemplified by Zion Church, a conflict it will ultimately not prevail in. The degree of religious freedom persecution has reached its most severe point in four decades,” Dr. Bob Fu, founder and president of China Aid, declared. “Belief is not a transgression. Adoration is not a transgression. Supplication is not a transgression.”

“The bravery of urban pastors and adherents in China will be historically acknowledged as a testament that the radiance of Christ cannot be suppressed by authoritarianism,” Fu further remarked. He also urged President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to publicly denounce the CCP’s suppressive actions.