As coronavirus pandemic restrictions have loosened over the past few years, underground churches in China have been finding new ways to meet together as they grow in attendance and numbers across the country. However, these gatherings have now come to the attention of Chinese authorities who have launched a severe crackdown on “house churches” that operate outside of official channels.
In a recent video, Grace Jin Drexel, daughter of imprisoned Chinese pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, gave an emotional testimony about the rise of Christian persecution in China and her father’s current imprisonment.
Grace’s father, Jin Mingri, is the founding pastor of Zion Church, which has become one of the largest house churches in China. For years, the church has been growing, especially leading up to and during the pandemic when they were meeting both online and in small groups, spreading the gospel to Christians all over the country in dozens of different cities.
In Grace’s interview, she talks about how her father returned to China from the United States at great risk to be a spiritual leader over his church family, continuing to preach the gospel even when it became clear that the Chinese government was going to crackdown hard on underground churches. She also discussed the heartbreak of not having seen her father since he was arrested in October, missing her wedding and never being allowed for her children to meet their grandfather.
Grace says that what China is doing is trying to take control of every aspect of religion and drive the Christian community into compliance with their regime. Underground churches have been routinely harassed, shut down, and pastors arrested for years in China simply because they will not fall under the government watch.
In her testimony, Grace says that her father never spoke out against the Chinese government. He only wanted the right to practice his faith and worship Jesus without government intervention. She says that she wants the world, including Congress, to use their voice to help free all religious prisoners who are being held captive simply for their faith. Grace’s emotional interview is a reminder of the individual lives impacted by this latest crackdown in China. Please keep these families in your prayers as they continue to suffer for their faith.
