Grace Jin Drexel, daughter of detained Chinese pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin, released a video on Christmas Eve reading a letter to her father amid severed family contact by authorities. The message highlights his harsh detention conditions and expresses hope for his release. The video has drawn international attention from U.S. figures advocating for religious freedom.
On Christmas Eve, Grace Jin Drexel shared a poignant video message addressed to her father, Mingri “Ezra” Jin, a leading figure in China's underground Christian community. Jin has been detained since October in a facility in Guangxi, southern China, where authorities have blocked direct communication with his family.
In the letter, read aloud with evident emotion, Grace described the severe conditions of her father's imprisonment. She noted that he shares a room with more than 30 unfamiliar inmates, exposed to wind and rain through unglazed windows, especially harsh during the winter season. Efforts by his mother to deliver extra clothing, a blanket, and medication were rejected by guards. Jin, who leads Zion Church, was arrested during dinner when police raided his apartment, handcuffing him, shaving his head, and taking him away along with 22 other church leaders.
Despite the hardships, Grace expressed gratitude for a rare allowance: Jin received a Bible in detention, uncommon for imprisoned Christians. “Miraculously, we recently heard that they actually gave you a Bible. We praise God for this mercy. We are so thankful that while you are not able to celebrate Christmas with us, and probably won’t be able to celebrate at all, the Bible will be able to be a comfort to you,” she said.
Jin converted to Christianity following the 1989 Tiananmen Square events and initially served in a state-approved church before leaving due to government interference that required promoting communist ideology.
Grace conveyed family resilience, stating, “We are all trying to put on a brave face for each other,” though they appear more sorrowful and aged. She also prayed for his persecutors: “I also pray that His love will be felt even by those who are persecuting you. May they feel love and forgiveness and may they turn to the Lord as well. We miss you. We love you. And we hope that we will see you free in the U.S. so soon.”
The video, disseminated by human rights groups, prompted responses from prominent Americans. Former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, a religious liberty advocate banned from China, posted on X: “Heartbreaking video of Pastor Jin’s daughter reading a letter to her father who is wrongly imprisoned in China this Christmas. His crime? Being a man of faith. He has been in jail since October. Pray for him and his family.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denounced the arrest and demanded Jin's immediate release.
This case underscores ongoing tensions over religious practice in China, where unregistered churches face severe restrictions.
