Crackdown on Faith: China's Arrest of 30 Christians Raises Alarms

Thu Oct 16 2025 14:58:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A recent mass arrest of thirty Christians, including prominent pastor Jin Mingri, has sparked fears of an escalating crackdown on underground churches in China.

Last weekend, Chinese authorities arrested 30 Christians linked to the Zion Church network, founded by pastor Jin Mingri. This crackdown is seen as potentially marking the beginning of a wider campaign against undeground churches, echoing the increasing government pressure on religious practices in recent years. Experts warn this could have significant implications for Christians across China.

Last Friday, Grace Jin Drexel received a text from her father, renowned pastor Jin Mingri in China, urging her to pray for another pastor who had gone missing. Soon after, she learned her father had also been detained, caught in what activists are calling China’s largest arrest of Christians in decades.

The sweep nabbed 30 Christians associated with the Zion Church network, which Jin founded, raising concerns that this could be the onset of a broader crackdown on underground churches. New policies that curtail such activities have intensified across China, exacerbated by the crackdown on religious groups.

Despite being governed by the atheist Chinese Communist Party, official estimates suggest around 38 million Protestants and nearly six million Catholics reside in China. However, numerous unregistered churches operate without government endorsement, potentially comprising tens of millions more followers.

Reports indicate the long-standing tension between the Chinese government and religious institutions has resurfaced recently, with significant repercussions for church leaders and congregants. The crackdown comes in the wake of new regulations stifling religious organizations and a series of high-profile arrests of church leaders over the past months.

Jin Mingri, who was born during the Cultural Revolution, converted to Christianity after the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, leading him to establish Zion Church. His arrest, alongside others, reflects a tactical move by authorities aiming to intimidate and undermine the organization of these underground churches.

Christian advocacy groups have noted that the scale of the detentions is unprecedented and indicative of a strategic effort to dismantle vocal religious entities in China. Many insiders believe this may just be the precursor to a larger sustained effort against underground religious movements.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy reiterated the nation's commitment to ensuring all religious practices remain compliant with local laws, dismissing international concerns as undue interference in China’s internal affairs.