57岁的中国地下教会牧师金明日在被关押266天后，于7月3日突然获释[1]。他将此归功于美国总统特朗普的干预——特朗普在5月访问北京期间向习近平提出了他的案件，习近平表示将"认真考虑这位牧师"[1]。
金明日曾担任锡安教会的创始人，该教会成立于2007年，2018年被北京当局关闭[1]。2025年10月，他与其他教会领导人遭拘捕[1]。7月3日获释当日，检察官在机场VIP室宣布了不起诉决定，撤销此前针对他的非法经营和欺诈等指控[1]。当地官员将护照返还给他，并向其签发了一年免费签证[1]。
金明日随后乘坐近13小时航班抵达洛杉矶[1]，与分离多年的家人团聚。获释后，他致力于为其他被拘押的基督徒争取获释，特别是同教会的8名被拘押成员[1]。
中国外交部对此事的国际关注表示反对，声称不应以"宗教问题"为由干涉中国内政[1]。
A 57-year-old Chinese underground church pastor has recounted his sudden release after spending 266 days in detention, attributing his freedom to diplomatic intervention by former US President Donald Trump. [1]
Jin Mingri, founder of the Zion Church, was held at a detention facility in Beihai in southern China before his unexpected liberation on July 3. [1] He stated that his release was connected to Trump raising his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a May visit to Beijing, when Xi indicated he would "seriously consider this pastor." [1]
At the airport, prosecutors announced a decision not to prosecute Jin, withdrawing charges including illegal business operations and fraud. [1] He was returned his passport and granted a one-year visa, allowing him to board a nearly 13-hour flight to Los Angeles. [1] Jin has since reunited with family members from whom he had been separated for years. [1]
Jin established Zion Church in 2007, but the congregation was shuttered by Beijing authorities in 2018. [1] He and other church leaders were detained in October 2025. [1] Now in the United States, Jin is working to secure the release of eight other imprisoned Zion Church members and other detained Christians. [1]
China's Foreign Ministry has stated its opposition to what it characterized as interference in Chinese internal affairs on religious grounds. [1]