China Releases Christian Pastor

China has released Evangelical pastor Jin (Ezra) Mingri from prison, and he has since traveled to the US, according to the Christian news website IDEA.

The release was confirmed by the Christian organization ChinaAid, which said Chinese authorities described it as a "gesture of goodwill" to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

Jin was arrested in October 2025 along with other Christians on charges of illegally distributing religious materials. He founded Beijing's unregistered Zion Church, which Chinese authorities shut down in 2018, although its members have continued to gather for worship.

According to ChinaAid, the release was also linked to negotiations between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

The organization thanked Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other US officials for their diplomatic efforts to secure the pastor's release.

(mja)