Chinese Christians face trial after Zion Church crackdown

Eight members of Zion Church, one of China's largest unregistered Protestant churches, are awaiting trial in Beihai after a crackdown on the group, while their families dispute the criminal charges against them.

Chinese authorities detained more than 20 Zion Church members last October, including pastor Wang Cong and founding pastor Ezra Jin. Jin was released in July, weeks after US President Donald Trump raised his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Wang and seven others are set to be tried in the southern Chinese coastal city on charges of fraud and illegally operating a business. A trial had been set for mid-August but was later postponed.

Ren Zhong, Wang's husband and also a preacher, said seven unidentified officers entered the family's Beijing home on the night Wang was detained. He said their four-year-old daughter saw her mother being taken away, and the family has not spoken directly with Wang since.

According to legal documents described by Ren, authorities accuse Wang of fraud because she collected church offerings for an unregistered group. They say she gathered about 660,000 yuan, or $98,000, between 2019 and 2025. Ren said financial giving is part of Christian church practice and rejected the fraud accusation.

China's foreign ministry said Beijing “manages religious affairs in accordance with the law”.

China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but Protestant and Catholic organisations must register with the government. Many Christians worship in unregistered churches because they believe official registration gives authorities too much control over church affairs and teaching.