Hundreds of Christians and church leaders in more than 45 countries have signed an online prayer petition showing solidarity with arrested church leaders in China.
Bill Drexel, the son-in-law of Jin Mingri one of the arrested pastors, said he believes this is the first time Christians around the world from countries with close ties to China have jointly spoken out for the persecuted church in China. Pastor Jin, who is sometimes known as Ezra Jin, founded the Zion Church of Beijing, an independent Christian church.
In October, around 30 Christians linked to the Zion Church network were arrested in China as part of the country’s crackdown on underground churches. It’s believed around 18, including Pastor Jin, remain in detention centres and are likely to face formal sentencing.
The online prayer which was written and circulated by Jin’s family calls on China’s leaders to release the Christians because “religious freedom strengthens rather than threatens nations” and to create “a future where Christians in China can worship freely, serve their communities openly, and live out their faith without fear.”
It continues: “May they know they are not forgotten, and that Christians around the world stand with them in spirit and in prayer, and that the world is bearing witness to their treatment.”
(Photograph shows Pastor Jin Mingri)