Zion Church Prayer Letter
June 19, 2026
Dear families in Christ and friends from all walks of life, peace be with you!
It has been 253 days since the “October 9” Zion crackdown outbroke. For Zion Church under ongoing persecution, these days and nights have been a wilderness journey—filled with tears and perils, yet also abounding in grace and providence. We sincerely thank you for your attention, prayers, solidarity, and support as you stand with us and journey alongside us. We hereby provide the latest updates on the case and the corresponding prayer requests.
I. Case Updates
On November 18, 2025, the Yinhai Branch of the Beihai Public Security Bureau formally arrested 18 Zion pastors and co-workers on charges of “suspected illegal use of information networks.” As of June 18, 2026, the police’s criminal investigation—following three previous extensions—has reached the maximum seven-month limit for pre-trial detention in major cases.
On June 18, 2026, nine of the detained brothers and sisters were released on bail pending trial. They include Pastor Sun Cong, Brother Liu Jiang, Sister Li Shengjuan, Sister Wei Yunfei, Sister An Mei, Sister Zhan Ge, Sister Hu Yanzi, Sister Mei, and Sister Zhu Mingli. We are filled with joy and gratitude for this. In Beihai, some family members and church members warmly welcomed these nine brothers and sisters with flowers and embraces after their long separation.
However, the situation is bittersweet, as the remaining nine church leaders have been—or are about to be—transferred to the procuratorate and face prosecution. They include Pastor Jin Mingri (Ezra), Pastor Wang Lin (Franklin), Pastor Gao Yingjia (Joshua), Pastor Yin Huibin, Pastor Liu Zhenbin, Pastor Lin Shucheng, Pastor Wang Cong (female), Elder Wang Zhong, and Sister Wu Qiaoyu (Chloe).
Based on the limited information currently available to us, the initial criminal charges of “illegal use of information networks” have been changed to “illegal business operations” and “fraud.” The specific charges upon which the individuals will ultimately be prosecuted remain to be verified and confirmed after their lawyers have reviewed the case files from the procuratorate.
II. Prayer Requests
1. Please give thanks and pray for the nine brothers and sisters who have been released on bail pending trial:
We thank and praise the Lord for graciously releasing these nine brothers and sisters, allowing them to finally reunite with family members and fellow believers they have so deeply longed to see. All nine are currently in good spirits and filled with joy. Please pray for the gradual restoration of their physical and mental health, families, daily lives, and ministries. May the Lord provide—through the church community—the financial, emotional, and spiritual support they need. May the Lord strengthen them as they live under the restrictions of bail, empowering them to continue testifying and living out the true freedom in Christ that no one can take away.
2. Please pray for the nine pastors, leaders, and coworkers facing prosecution, as well as their families:
May the Lord continue to protect their bodies, souls, and spirits, and—in His perfect timing—bring about the complete release of His servants. May the Lord watch over their families, comforting them in their sense of loss and pain, and strengthening their faith and hope. Please offer special thanksgiving and prayer for two families who welcomed new life on the 4th of this month. Pastor Ezra’s daughter, Grace, gave birth to a son (who shares the name Ezra with his grandfather), and Pastor Lin Shucheng’s family welcomed a daughter. May these gifts, bestowed by the Lord amidst suffering, serve as a testimony to the Gospel: through persecution and tribulation, the church is sharing in the Messiah’s birth pangs and bringing forth new, eternal lives.
3. Please pray regarding the procuratorate’s subsequent review and prosecution process:
Please pray for the People’s Procuratorate of Yinhai District, Beihai City—which is handling this case—as well as the Chief Procurator and the officials involved. Ask the Lord to open their eyes so they may clearly see that “Zion Bible Institute” is by no means an “illegal business operation,” and that Zion Church’s “offerings” are certainly not commercial “fraud.” We earnestly pray and publicly call upon the procuratorial authorities to respect the facts, drop the baseless charges of “illegal business operations” and “fraud” against Pastor Lin and eight other church leaders in accordance with the law, decide not to prosecute, and immediately release all those currently detained. In doing so, they would uphold the judicial mandate of objectivity, fairness, punishing evil, and rewarding good, while safeguarding the constitutional right of citizens to freedom of belief.
4. Please pray for the legal team’s ongoing defense:
Should the prosecution proceed with formal charges, we ask the Lord to grant the lawyers courage, wisdom, strategy, and eloquence as they conduct the defense in accordance with the law. May the Lord protect the legal team, ensuring they are granted access to all case files, can make thorough pre-trial preparations, and formulate sound courtroom defense strategies. May the Lord provide all necessary resources and funding for the subsequent legal work and keep the Christian lawyers and their families safe and secure. May the Lord use the testimonies and arguments presented by the pastors and lawyers in court to offer a public and righteous defense of the truth of the Gospel.
5. Please pray for the ongoing pastoral ministry of Zion Church:
May our Lord Jesus Christ—the Great Shepherd who died, rose again, and sits upon the throne—continue to lead and shepherd His own church.
We ask the Lord to strengthen Zion pastors and congregants everywhere, that they may not cast away their confidence (Hebrews 10:35), but strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3), practice love for one another (John 13:35), and remain full of hope for the future—hope not only for the return of the nine Zion pastoral leaders but also for the return of Christ and the making of all things new (Revelation 21:5), as all nations join hands to return to Zion (Isaiah 2:2)!
In summary, as of June 18, 2026, the Zion Church case has entered a brand-new phase. The legal struggle we are waging for the sake of our faith is also an ongoing spiritual battle. We earnestly urge and encourage everyone: remain vigilant, pray without ceasing, and rely fully on the Lord—for ultimate victory is assured. Amen.
Zion Church Pastoral Team, Board of Elders, Church Administration Committee, and Family Fellowship
June 19, 2026