The massive operation is one of the largest against house churches in recent years. Since October 9, 2025, nearly 30 pastors and co-workers affiliated with the Beijing Zion Church, whose persecution “Bitter Winter” had reported previously, have been detained or have lost contact with their families. The arrests span multiple provinces and cities, suggesting a centrally orchestrated operation targeting the church’s national network.

The crackdown began on the afternoon of October 9, when Pastor Wang Lin—responsible for the Yangtze River Delta pastoral area—was apprehended by police at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport. His family has received no information about his whereabouts, and authorities have refused to disclose the location of his detention.

On the evening of October 10, Senior Pastor Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin) and Pastor Yin Huibin were detained at their residence in Beihai City, Guangxi Province. Both pastors are currently missing. Pastor Jin, the founder of Zion Church, has been under government surveillance since the church’s forced closure in 2018. His detention marks a significant escalation in the state’s campaign against Zion Church leadership.

Simultaneously, over a dozen pastoral staff and their families in Beijing disappeared. Between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. on October 10, Beihai police conducted raids targeting Zion Church affiliates in Beijing. 

Further arrests occurred in other provinces. Authorities have indicated that they may face criminal charges for “illegal dissemination of religious information via the internet,” a charge increasingly used to suppress online religious activity.

"The crackdown appears to be linked to the 'Online Code of Conduct for Religious Professionals,' implemented in September 2025. This law restricts content online unless it is disseminated through state-approved channels." [opendoorsus.org]

Using pre-issued warrants and simultaneous arrests across multiple jurisdictions suggests a coordinated national operation. The targeting of digital communications and confiscation of devices points to a broader effort to dismantle Zion Church’s online infrastructure, which has been essential to its survival under persecution.

Beijing Zion Church used to be the largest house church in the city. Despite being raided and banned by authorities in 2018, members in various branches throughout China have continued to gather, facing regular arrests and harassment while frequently changing locations to evade police detection. “Bitter Winter” has consistently documented its persecution and resilience.

The October 2025 arrests represent one of the most extensive operations against Zion Church since its founding. The coordinated nature of the detentions, the targeting of digital infrastructure, and the use of criminal charges signal a renewed effort by Chinese authorities to eliminate unregistered religious movements. Zion Church, despite years of persecution, has remained resilient. Whether it can survive this latest assault remains uncertain.

by Qin Junzao (pseudonym for security reasons), Oct 13, 2025

bitterwinter.org (Edited for length)