“I also have to give props to the Hoover family who, being the most conservative family I've ever met, do not judge others....despite any indication otherwise you may have gotten from the show. They are very respectful people and likewise, we respect them and their way of life. They are great representatives of Christians everywhere and if there were more people out there like them, maybe Christians wouldn't get such a bad rep.”
--Tish Meeks
"I would like to tell the mom what a wonderful job she did representing the Christian community. It doesn't matter that she was from a different religion than the Meeks or even our family, she had a ton of grace. ...
...I was thrilled as a youth pastor in a non-denominational church to see a Christian not try to "change the world" in a day, but show her grace, love and compassion, non-judgementally and through who she was, not who she "said" she was. She lived her convictions, and let her "light shine" through her life, not through harsh words or condemnation. She did just what the Bible instructs us to do, and I wanted to commend her for that."
"We watched your show tonight and I was wondering if the wife who makes everything from scratch ever shares recipes..."
Here is a sample of the responses the Hoovers are getting:
"Kristen I was inspired by you and your family. I watched as you refused to let your guard down in even the simplest of things. You remained steadfast and strong in what you believe and I admire you for that. I especially liked what you said at the end of the show, that the most romantic thing Steve could have done for you was to protect your daughters’ modesty."
"I have watched Wife Swap since it has been on, and yours was my very favorite episode... ...thank you for doing the show, for standing up for your convictions, and for doing it with a loving spirit "
"I watched the show! You were great and Kudos for standing up for your beliefs!!"
"I love how you all were such good sports!
Kristen, I loved your (carefully considered) decision to give a testimony and sing Amazing Grace. Steve, you were wonderful in letting your girls experience making a music video…and your genuine appreciation in accepting the guitar."
“Value systems are smashed into each other, like atoms in an accelerator, on ABC’s Wife Swap, where the producers find the most extreme pairings possible: lesbian mommies with bigots, godless cosmopolites with Bible thumpers. On one February show, a Pentecostal family, the Hoovers, was paired with the family of a former pastor, Tony Meeks, who has turned from God to follow his rock-and-roll dreams (mom Tish rocks out as well). “I feel by being there,” Kristin Hoover said, “I was able to remind Tony that God still loves him and is not finished with him.” The episode took seriously the Hoovers’ commitment to homeschooling and their rejection of contemporary culture (a rejection not taken to the extreme of declining an invitation to appear on reality TV). Compare this with the tokenism of “born-again Christian” Harriet Hayes on NBC’s dramedy Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Harriet’s but a cipher, a rhetorical backboard against which ex-boyfriend Matt Albie can thwack his heathen wisecracks.”
MICHAEL HIRSCHORN, Atlantic Monthly
"The Hoover family consistently demonstrates a high level of spiritual maturity and it does not go unnoticed or unappreciated."
