Isabell Hoeh - The Church's" Julia Child" who helped us All Eat Like Herman!

This isn't going to be a typical critical post. This one's more of a retrospective look at one of the figures that made life in Armstrongism what it was in a way that most necessarily did not influence apart from Atonement and the Dietary Laws - our stomachs! 

You see - Sometimes, when you are researching things involving the Church, you can get yourself into a tangent that you never knew where it will take you. Today was just such a day, when perusing articles, I noticed there was one person who never really gained all that much personal attention - but nonetheless, had a huge and dramatic influence on the lives of most old-timer WCG members and children. The person I am referring to is the wife of the infamous Dr. Herman Hoeh - Isabell.

Isabell Hoeh was your classic Church of God cook and homemaker. You may have varying opinions on that - but she was more than likely the benchmark of what most ladies in the church at that time looked up to, and who most college girls at AC wanted to be most like.

Starting as one of the original Church of God members, by the name of Isabell Kunkel, she spent her college years with Herman "The Brain" Hoeh - and they eventually got married. As Herman quickly moved up the executive ladder of the Church,  she had the unique job of doing her best to help the Church women learn how to cook the way that she felt was proper. In the Good News Magazine of the 50s, there were constant articles that were published to help ladies of the Church at that time with the cooking.The side effect?

Many of the Church began not only getting their spiritual meat from the Hoeh's, but they also began to eat what Hoeh ate. Isabell was running the unofficial Church of God Diner - via Publication and Media.

Isabell would post everyday recipes like Beef in Spicy Sauce, Carrots and Beans Au Gratin, and Apple-Cottage Cheese Salad. She would do a "Meat for the Meal" planner, where she would explain how to cook meats. Of course, pork wasn't on the menu! And she even taught about the use of vegetables and how to cook them. She also wrote an article on honey.  She even was the ONLY Female who wrote an entire Ambassador College Press Booklet. 

You probably made many Unleavened Bread Recipes that Isabell inspired.

Isabell wrote a column on recipes for busy days, too. We got to see what Herman would eat on those days when Isabell, no doubt, was stuck with the washing and the vacuuming and everything else a 50's Church of God housewife was expected to do. Like Hamburger filling, or the amazingly delicious Wheat Germ Wafer! Apparently, Herman loved a good peach. Isabell's Peach Mallow was a hit, apparently. And Miracle Whip or Hellmans' (were these even out at that time?) were not popular in the Hoeh House. She made her on mayo.

That was in the 50s. After a few years of not writing, Isabell came back in 1960 with much more to say about eating.

She advised church members to buy and grind your own grain, and promoted the use of cornmeal, and to avoid cream-of-wheat and hominy grits, and not to smother breakfast cereal under a layer of sugar. She advised cooked brown rice for breakfast. And she gave many recipes for the Church's Days of Unleavened Bread celebrations, like Cottage Cheese Pancakes. Sounds.....delicious? And prune diamonds. Prune Diamonds. I wonder how long Herman spent in the can after eating prune diamonds! I certainly wouldn't want to go into the bathroom after Herman was in there for half an hour after those Prune diamonds!!! Maybe Isabell had an all-natural deodorizor for Herman's Hunkers.

Now, Isabell wrote an article on Food Specialty Items. Meaning the sweets! She would make whole-wheat graham crackers, brown sugar marshmallows, honey marshmallows, and candied pineapple. Herman must have had quite the sweet tooth!

Through most of the 60s and onward, Isabell was mainly absent from the Good News magazine. It makes sense, due to the push the Church was doing for money and funds of the building fund at that time. No room for food articles - gotta get the master plan done and the Auditorium built!

Isabell passed away in 2007 - preceded by her husband Herman in 2004. Her daughter said she "is remembered for a skip in her step and a songbird's "hello" for each of us." 

Without a doubt - The Hoeh's were extremely influential in the lives of the members of the Church - and all of us have our opinions on them. But this post isn't about Herman - and there's a lot to be said about him, his person, and his beliefs that has been the source of controversy for many decades. This post is about the "Church Mother" who influenced the stomachs and appetites of the thousands of members and families who grew up in the Church. 

I often wonder exactly what the point was for all of the food related posts that Isabell published. I guess I could easily go into some off the wall theories - was she told to help the members be cost-conscious so more money can go into the work? Or to help the new members with diverting their previous love for pork and seafood? Or maybe we all were just supposed to "Eat Like Herman". Even though "Wheat Germ Wafers" had to taste like Hoeh...sorry, Hay. 

Since we all had the idea that we were going to live in an agri-utopian paradise we in our unique jargon called "The Wonderful World Tomorrow" in the next 3 to 5 to 8 to 10 to 20 to 40 to 70 years (yes, that clock is STILL ticking for a few out there, thanks to Prophecitus Armstrongitus! (see previous post!), I suppose that the push to eat COG-style had something to do with that. I can remember very well the lasting influence of the push for carob, whole wheat bread, no white bread - and a family push for Alfalfa - the WORST - and I mean worst - tasting thing I ever ate and can still taste to this day. Okay. Not the worst. There was this ginger cube.....

Yet from all that I have read, under the pressures of a minister's wife (and not just any minister's wife, we're talking Herman Hoeh here), she seemed to have tried very hard to meet expectations in the food department. But with all sincerity from the bottom of my stomach - 

You will never get me to try her Wheat Germ Wafers. Because of my health situation -  My diet is restricted enough!

Ode to The Dayton Experience - FOT 84 - Hara Arena.

Just a poem and a picture of the Feast of Tabernacles back in 1984. It never hurts to reminisce, to think, and to reflect. The above picture is original art using digital paint software directly from memory (minus the inserted images.). For many a time, I would consistently stare up at that fan - watching it spin and twirl, on and off - looking up at the bright Mercury-Vapor high bay lamps. Watching them warm up after a film was always fascinating to me. From flickers to a deep blue at the start of the final hymn, to nearly fully brightened by the last prayer - they were a reminder of the build up and anticipation of the Feast that was finally there. Strangely, as fast as the lights went out - the feast ended. Quite an appropriate metaphor. So with that, I share a simple poem of those days in the middle 80s at one of the most hated Feast Sites in the entire country - but still, the Feast it was. You had your memories of those days - so you can probably substitute your memories easily in place of mine. 

Reflecting is all a part of healing in the recovery. And though it is distant, and gone - it was a part of our collective past. I acknowledge what was with these words.

'Twas Two Decades And Four
In a Time Long Ago
Ray Meyer's Strong Voice
Will 5,000 Show?
Al Dennis the leader
of songs we all sang
"All together now", he ordered
our voices rang.
The afternoon service
The first day did come
Judd led us together
United as one.
The song hallelujah
the chorus in song
The chorale joined together
we listened along.
As Herbert stepped forward
Applause thundered forth
Well greetings, everybody
We listened for more.
Why are we here? We'd here once again
Two trees, give and get,
two hours till end.
His gestures so strong
nearly fell off his chair
Jowels shaking, loud yelling
Herb's gospel laid bare.
And then its the last song
The lights slowly rise
A prayer and a blessing
How time surely flies!
And with one last amen
a rush to the stairs
And out to dinner
No worries or cares
Back to the hotel
Soon time for bed
Thinking back on these times
Now, NO tears to be shed.
Yet these memories constant
as loud as they are
They're as distant as galaxies
So deep, and so far.

Oh, Those Young Ambassadors.

One of the things about owning a survivor blog is the ability to write on whatever is on my mind. I was thinking about the Young Ambassadors of Ambassador College this evening. And though many of you may not know what I'm talking about, some might. So bear with me on this little trip down memory lane for me.  This post will be a little unusual in it's positivity when it comes to my church experience with the Worldwide Church of God. But hey. My blog, my posts. 

The Feast of Tabernacles season is coming in full swing for those who are members of the Armstrong Churches of God. (I grew up in the mother church, the Worldwide Church of God.)  And though that way of life and that experience is far, far gone in the past for me, I thought I'd take a moment to write about some young adults who were very, very big in the life of a member of the Worldwide Church of God. They were what we called "The Young Ambassadors". This post is just a reflection of my life growing up with their music.

Mike Hale (Beak), Dave Myers (Hawaiian shirt) and company

These were the college kids who had the ability to sing and dance, and were showcased worldwide
with LP's (New World Singers), Festival Productions (Festival of Music 1, 2, and 3, The Bible Hymnal), and other appearances at festival sites. These were the "celebrities" and the role models of the youth of the Church.

 Since I grew up in an extremely fundamental, conservative family in the Church, my music choices were quite limited - even to the point of being unable to participate in gym class due to their playing of rock music. But the music that was allowed in my house, whenever I wanted, day or night - were those College Kids of 18 to 22 - the Young Ambassadors. They, after all, are the ones who first introduced me to musicals like Hello, Dolly, Fiddler On the Roof, and Singing In the Rain. They also introduced me to barbershop quartets - well, kind of. And marching band pieces such as "76 trombones."

Kathy Pierce and that other dude ooo'ing to "Country that I Love"

 With these Young Ambassadors, I could talk with the animals, put on a happy face, and sing about the country that I love. Yes, the world they portrayed was one of utopian bliss, straight from a Lawrence Welk playbook. Always smiling when singing, always dancing side to side while swinging the arms. Always cheerful, bright, and blissful. Pretty much - to my youthful mind - the perfect people. The elite of the elite. The cream of the crop. The.. yes, you get the idea. I used to look at those album pictures in awe as a young child. Yes, the beautiful Renae. The Country girl Kathy. The ministerial Dave. The boyish Rick. These were the celebrities in the strange life of a child steeped in the extremes of Armstrongism. And I memorized every word of every song. For some reason, I was amazed at the abilities of their clogging, when they did their Hoe-downs at the Auditorium. I was awed at how Renae was so calm with that lion, holding it's dinner just feet away. And their royal dancing was mesmerizing.

Ross Jutsum getting his groove on while Beak strums away.

 Indeed, I share these things from the perspective of one who, at the time - was thoroughly indoctrinated in Church teachings and in Church culture. I share these things as one who had no idea whatsoever who KISS was, or the Rolling Stones. The only country singer I was allowed to listen to was the great John Denver. The classical artists I could listen to were Montavoni and Farrante and Teicher, and Liberace. I share these from the perspective of a sheltered individual whose idea of culture WAS the Young Ambassadors - and the forever juvenile antics of Mike Hale - who played Big Beak, the Wonder Chicken. BGAWK!

 There are some who might say the YA's were absolutely juvenile. And they were. They were just college kids having fun - but they did work hard at what they did. I was even more impressed with how it was created. Word has it that Good ol' "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" Ross Jutsum was the brains behind the production. I've got to say - he did a pretty good job coordinating it - even though the presenting of some of the kids was just a little raw and overly rehearsed. But the best thing I saw - and remember - were that the people on that stage, clapping hands, and rocking - were actually having some fun. The audience, on the other hand were like frozen snowmen just thawed out, they were so stiff. I still don't think McNair cracked a smile once down there.

Nope. Not Smiling. Not even a little.

 Regardless of how I feel about the Church as a critic - and yes, I am a very outspoken critic - the videos and the productions that the Young Ambassadors made I do remember quite fondly. These are the songs that made up for the nursery rhymes I was not allowed to hear, or the fiction that I was not allowed to read. I may not be able to recite "This Old Man" all the way through - but I can tell you I know every word to "Climb Every Mountain" and "Hi-Ho", as well as "Mr. Piano Man."

 Yes, the Church as a whole for me was a dark, controlling, and oppressive time. But the Young Ambassadors were a little bit of a light of music shining out making the experience a little brighter. So, for any of the former YA's out there who might be reading this - I doubt it -  Dave, Rick, Kathy, Renae, or Jeff - regardless of what I write or think about the church or those of you who became ministers and the doctrines you teach - thank you for the music, for songs and singing. And for YOU, Mike - er, I mean, Big Beak - I hope you finally got accepted and got over your constant rejection from the "In Crowd" :)

Dave Myers Giving Rejecting Big Beak