This Christmas will be even harder for China’s Christians

In a coordinated sweep, police detained Ezra Jin, Zion’s 56-year-old founding pastor, and nearly 30 other church leaders and members in eight cities, including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Chengdu. At least 18 people have been charged on suspicion of “illegal use of information networks,” fraud and other crimes. Authorities have continued to harass Zion’s remaining members throughout November and December, according to their families. They broke up a private Thanksgiving gathering and took away the organizer. On Saturday, plainclothes officers barged into the home of one churchgoer to question him about Jin. On Thursday, many of Zion’s members will be…