Source: Global Christian Relief, October 13
In early October 2025, police across several provinces in China moved before dawn, knocking down doors, cutting power, and storming homes where believers were gathered for worship or rest. Among those taken was Pastor Ezra Jin of Beijing’s Zion Church, one of China’s most influential unregistered congregations. Within three days, nearly 30 pastors and staff had been detained or gone silent.
Founded in 2007 with fewer than 20 believers, Zion Church grew into one of the nation’s largest house congregations, more than 1,500 members and 20 pastors meeting in the heart of Beijing.
Then came 2018. New religious regulations effectively outlawed unregistered churches. Hundreds of police flooded Zion’s sanctuary, confiscating everything. Pastor Ezra was placed under surveillance and forbidden to leave the country. His wife and children fled to the United States. He has not seen them in seven years.
You’d think that would end the story. But instead, it began a new one.
“We moved from one sanctuary to hundreds,” Pastor Sean said. “Online gatherings, small fellowships, new church plants. God grew us wider, not smaller.”
What they called the online sanctuary soon connected more than a thousand screens each week. From the ashes of one building rose a hundred new fellowships in 40 cities.
“This is God’s work,” he said. “No one could have imagined it.”
By 2025, the authorities had taken notice.
Read the full story and watch a video (also below). This story was widely covered by other news sources. Sounds like some of those taken were released but about 20 remain in detention.