Senate Passes Resolution led by Sen. Cruz, Rep. Barr, Demanding China Release Pastor Ezra Jin and Other Leaders of Zion Church

Washington, D.C.- Today, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) demanding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stop persecuting Christians and release Pastor Ezra Jin and other leaders of the Zion Church currently imprisoned in China.

On October 10, 2025, the Chinese Communist Party conducted the largest coordinated, nationwide crackdown against a Christian urban house church in over four decades. At least 22 pastors and church members from Zion Church, one of China's largest underground congregations, were arrested, including a prominent pastor and the founder of Zion Church, Pastor "Ezra" Jin Mingri.

"China needs to release Pastor Jin and stop persecuting Christians for practicing their faith. Until then, Senator Cruz and I will keep rallying our House and Senate colleagues to condemn this atrocity and hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable," said Congressman Barr, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Select Committee on China.

"Christians are fighting daily for their religious freedom against the Chinese Communist Party," said Senator Cruz. "Last month, the CCP carried out its largest nationwide crackdown in over four decades against a Christian house church in China. I'm grateful to Senator Coons and my colleagues for standing with me to demand Pastor Jin and his congregation's release and to make clear that any government that fears faith is tyrannical."

"The Chinese Communist Party's campaign of repression against Christians, including the targeting of churches such as the Zion Church, is a violation of fundamental religious freedom rights," said U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). "I am glad to see the resolution condemning the CCP for abducting leaders of the Christian leaders, which I co-sponsored, has passed the Senate. This sends a clear message: faith is not a crime, and the United States condemns the recent alarming arrests of church leaders by CCP authorities."

"The abduction of Pastor Ezra Jin and the ongoing religious persecution against Christians in China is a tragedy and a violation to individual rights and freedoms,"said U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). "I strongly condemn the Chinese Communist Party's continued religious persecution of Christians, as well as believers of other faiths, and will continue to advocate for those being unfairly silenced. I'm pleased the Senate passed our resolution unanimously."

"The Chinese Communist Party's targeting of Pastor Jin and the Zion Church is an attack on the God-given right to live out one's faith," said U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). "I'm pleased the Senate passed this bipartisan resolution condemning China's persecution of Christians and other religious minorities, and I call for the immediate release of all those arrested. The United States stands with the persecuted and is committed to defending religious freedom."

"Faith isn't a crime. We need to call out China for once more targeting people of faith," said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA).

"I'm proud to see the Senate's passage of our resolution condemning the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) brutal persecution of people of faith," said U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL). "The CCP's record of religious oppression, including the unjust arrest of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri and members of the Zion Church, is evil and unacceptable. With this bipartisan action, America is making clear our commitment to defend religious freedom as a basic human right and to stand up for all who are persecuted for their faith. I'll continue working with my colleagues to hold the CCP accountable and demand the release of Pastor Jin and all those imprisoned simply for worshipping God."

"The United States has led the world in religious freedom, standing against tyrannical regimes like the People's Republic of China," said U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS). "We must speak the truth about the regime's evil crackdown on Christians and other religious groups. We will not stop advocating for those living under the thumb of Xi Jinping's oppression."