Jee Gam, First Chinese Ordained Minister in the U.S., 1885

Jee Gam emigrated from China at age 14 and became a cook in the home of George Mooar, a Congregationalist minister. He converted to Christianity, joined the First Congregationalist Church in Oakland in 1870 and often worked as a court interpreter. The religious activism of Jee Gam and other Chinese Protestants helped advocate for Chinese American suffrage and oppose Chinese exclusion, an involvement that has received little recognition from historians. They faced obstacles as many Americans viewed the Chinese as heathens and questioned whether they would accept Christianity.

 After 25 years of service at a Congregational church, in 1885 Jee Gam became the first Chinese American ordained as a Congregationalist minister, even though he could not become a U.S. citizen.

Joy Gam delivered a speech in 1891 at the Chinese Mission in Santa Cruz, describing a visit he made to his village in China. They were interested in hearing about the American railroads,  machinery, and other wonderful inventions and asked him why Americans were so wise. Jee Gam saw this as an opening to preach to them, explaining that praying to God made their success possible.