I was genuinely pleased to learn that U.S. President Donald Trump referred to my father in conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Although I am aware that setting overly high expectations might result in more profound heartache, I sincerely hope and pray that my father will come back to our family, reside with us, and even meet his third grandchild.
Grace Jin, the eldest daughter of Pastor Kim Myeong-il (known in China as Jin Mingru, 57 years old), a Korean-Chinese figure leading one of China’s biggest underground churches who was detained by Chinese authorities in October last year, spoke with a shaky voice during a phone interview with this newspaper on the 15th. U.S. President Donald Trump, wrapping up his two-night, three-day trip to China, told reporters on his plane that he had directly addressed the issue of Pastor Kim’s arrest and detention with President Xi, saying, “President Xi is seriously considering releasing Pastor Kim.” Ms. Jin said, “Although my father is not a U.S. citizen, I am very thankful to President Trump for not forgetting a detained individual and bringing it up as if it were a personal matter.”
Pastor Kim, a native of Heilongjiang Province and a Peking University graduate, entered the church in 1989 following the Tiananmen Square incident. After earning a doctoral degree in theology in the U.S., he returned to China and led the evangelical Zion Church. The church operated Sunday services in over 40 cities and attracted 5,000 online participants for sermons and worship, becoming exceptionally popular. However, as the Communist Party intensified restrictions on religious activities, the family relocated to the U.S. in 2018. His spouse, Liu Chunli, stated, “After we opposed the authorities’ plan to install cameras on the first floor of the church to monitor attendees, our situation became increasingly difficult.” Pastor Kim was arrested by Chinese authorities last year on charges of “illegal information dissemination.” The Chinese government has criminalized religious activities, such as preaching and worship in homes, except for those conducted in officially approved churches.
Ms. Jin has had almost no communication with her father since his arrest. She mentioned, “According to our lawyer, he hasn’t been given the medication he needs and has lost a lot of weight since being detained. I am very concerned because I don’t have any information about his health.” However, she also said, “Although his physical condition may not look good, his mental resilience is still strong, and he keeps maintaining his faith.” Before the summit, the U.S. House and Senate passed resolutions calling for the release of Pastor Kim and others. Ms. Jin traveled throughout the country promoting his freedom, saying, “The bipartisan and widespread support from Congress has confirmed that my father’s release is a major request shared by many people.”
Pastor Kim, a citizen of Korean-Chinese descent, has an aging mother who is currently living in South Korea. Ms. Jin mentioned, “My grandmother’s only desire is to see my father once before she dies.” Even legal professionals have encountered limited access to Pastor Kim, and attempts to contact the South Korean embassy for consular support have received no reply. Ms. Jin, who is expecting her third child and close to giving birth, said, “I genuinely hope and pray that my father will return to the U.S. and live with us. I hope he can take on his roles as a husband, father, and grandfather, which he has been unable to do for the past eight years.”
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