In 2018, the Chinese government said there were about 44 million Christians in China — 38 million Protestants and 6 million Catholics — but many Christian organizations believe that number is much, much higher. For starters, you can’t believe anything the Communist government of that country says, but more importantly, many Christians are afraid to speak up. Here’s Persecution.org’s take on why it’s hard to know the exact numbers:
Persecution and pressure from the Communist government are two main factors. Christianity has been under attack since President Xi Jinping came into power in 2013. The spike in Sinicization in China, the official ban on religious education for children, the spread of the Communist party into Hong Kong, and the increased imprisonment of pastors and Christians and attacks on churches are just some of the factors that have impacted the numbers of Christians in China.
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His daughter, Grace, fears for his life, claiming he has health issues, including diabetes, which have required hospitalization in the past. She also claims authorities are not allowing him to meet with a lawyer.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with several members of Congress, condemned the Chinese government’s actions.
Rubio also released an official statement via the State Department:
The United States condemns the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s recent detention of dozens of leaders of the unregistered house Zion Church in China, including prominent pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin.
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We call on the CCP to immediately release the detained church leaders and to allow all people of faith, including members of house churches, to engage in religious activities without fear of retribution.
The pastor’s son-in-law, Bill Drexel, called it the “most extensive attack on a Chinese church in 4 decades.”
The church’s spokesperson, Sean Long, told Reuters that “What just happened is part of a new wave of religious persecution this year.” He said during the interview that “police had questioned more than 150 worshippers and stepped up harassment at in-person Sunday services in recent months.”
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NPR also spoke to Long, who said, “We strongly appeal to the global church society to hold the Chinese government accountable. They cannot do whatever they want without letting people know. Let our ministers and staff members be released as soon as possible. Stop arresting our members.”
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The Chinese government manages religious affairs in accordance with the law, protects citizens’ freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities. We firmly oppose the U.S. side’s interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of so-called religious issues.
Many, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), believe these recent arrests could put a strain on the already sensitive relationship between Beijing and Washington, D.C. Either way, let’s pray for the arrested pastors and church members and hope they’re returned home to their loved ones soon.
* Original Article:
https://pjmedia.com/sarah-anderson/2025/10/14/ccp-cracks-down-on-christians-us-demands-release-of-pastor-n4944842
