Jehu Shuck was a Virginian, born in that state in 1812. He was born again as a young man, and the Lord called him into the ministry. Two days after marrying, Henrietta, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J.B. Jeter, the Shucks set sail for China as missionaries. Mrs. Shuck became the first American evangelical woman to serve in that country. Two years later, Brother Shuck baptized, in Macao, the first Chinese convert to Christ. After being forced to move to Hong Kong, in 1843, he established, perhaps the colony’s first Baptist church with twenty-six members. When Henrietta passed away, Jehu was forced to return to the United States to make provision for his children. He took with him a young believer named Yong. Back in America, the pair were greatly used to stir churches into supporting and praying for the work of the Lord in China. In 1847, the two brethren returned to China, but settled this time in Shanghai. Brother Shuck became highly excited to hear that Dr. And Mrs. Sexton James would be coming to assist him. The new couple safely arrived in Hong Kong, but the schooner which was taking them to Shanghai capsized in a squall and the missionaries went down without ever beginning their work. After his second wife died, and wishing to be nearer his children, Bro. Shuck returned to the United States and began working among the Chinese in California. His first convert, Wong Mui, eventually returned to Canton, China, as a faithful servant of God. J.L. Shuck, having labored twenty-five years among the Chinese, passed away on this day in 1863.
