‘My father was arrested for pastoring a church in China. Please pray for his release’

Grace Jin Drexel’s father, Ezra Jin, pastored one of China’s largest independent churches before being arrested in a crackdown on religious freedom last year. She shares her story of growing up under persecution and explains why the Chinese Church continues to grow, despite government pressure

When Grace Jin Drexel was growing up in China in the early 2000s, people didn’t even know what being a Christian meant. There was no crèche, no kid’s Bible songs or any church youth groups. In fact, under 18s were banned from stepping into a church full stop.

“They treat churches like bars. No under 18’s are allowed,” Grace explains. “In China, it’s considered evil to minster to children.” Christian content for kids was limited to Bible stories committed to memory and shared in secret.

Growing up as a Christian, she was persecuted from a young age. “I remember a teacher in first grade picking on me because my family were ‘bad’. I was the only kid not allowed to wear a patriotic red handkerchief around my neck,” she says. She was also banned from joining the Young Pioneers of China – a mass organisation operated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which today boasts 113 million members aged 6-14 – and was the only pupil prohibited from saluting the flag in her school playground.