Dozens of pastors of one of the largest “illegal” churches in China were arrested by police at the weekend in “bigger repression against Christians since 2018”, according to shepherds and members of the church.

The arrests concern pastors and senior members of Zion (Zion Church), doctrine of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church founded in the US in the late 19th century.

The Church of Zion is one of China’s largest informal churches, with over 1,000 people watching its functions.

Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of the Church of Zion (central photo) – informal “home church” not approved by the Chinese government – was arrested at his home in Beihai in the southern part of the country on Friday night

Church spokeswoman Sean Long told Reuters that Chinese police have interrogated more than 150 believers, and in recent months had increased their harassment in their Sunday functions.

Speaking from his home in the United States, Long added that the Chinese authorities arrested nearly 30 pastors and members of the church across the country, but later released five.

The United States condemned the arrests by saying: “This repression further demonstrates how the CCP exerts hostility towards Christians who reject the party’s intervention in their faith and choosing to worship in unsecured home churches.

We call on the CCC to immediately release the prisoners of the Church and to allow all the faithful, including members of the home churches, to participate in religious activities without fear of retaliation. ”