Recent release of a well-known Chinese Christian leader has sparked fresh hope among those fighting for religious freedom. Pastor Jin Mingri was detained in a wider government push against religious expression.
Back home now,his daughter Grace Jin Drexel expressed deep gratitude for the support and prayers during his detention,calling it a miracle. "We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling so overwhelmed with joy," she texted. Family believes high-level intervention,including former U.S. President Donald Trump discussing it with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May,helped secure his release.
Jin's church,started in 2007,has faced growing scrutiny from Chinese Communist Party,leading to its ban in 2018. After that,Jin was barred from leaving China to be with family in U.S. October 2025 crackdown saw many pastors and churchgoers detained across regions,accused of using information networks illegally for faith practices. Such charges can mean up to three years in prison,ChinaAid's founder says.
Grace Jin Drexel now hopes her father's return might signal better days for religious practitioners in China and maybe even improve U.S.-China ties. "As this tremendous development all happened so quickly, we ask for your prayers and patience with us as we navigate this critical time," she noted.
Before arrest,Jin lived in U.S. with family but went back to China to fulfill pastoral duties despite risks. His case caught U.S. lawmakers' attention,who urged Trump to advocate for other detainees like Pastor Gao Quanfu and media figure Jimmy Lai. Trump said he discussed Lai with Xi but called it complex.
White House hasn't issued statement on Jin's release yet. Family remains hopeful this might mean easing of restrictions on faith communities in China…
