Stan has been involved in Christian camping ministry on the West Coast for over 50 years. He has served in leadership roles at Forest Home, Hume Lake, Zephyr Point, Alpine Camp and Conference Center, SAMBICA, and Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp along with the Christian Camp and Conference Association. It was through his involvement at Forest Home that he met Mary and quickly fell in love with her music and ministry. His wife, Angi, and Mary worked together in the early years of her ministry, so Stan had no choice! Now his three granddaughters are growing up with Mary's music!
Russ, a proud Ohio Buckeye, is a 1978 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and holds a MBA from Webster University, Missouri.
Recently retired after 44+ years in our Nations' Air Force first serving 27 years in uniform, Russ flew over 4,900 hours in multiple aircraft; was a three time operational commander; and served headquarters staff tours operations, personnel and the inspector general. Russ then transitioned to Air Force Federal Civil Service' spending 17 years as a Headquarters Air Force Senior Leader in Operational Plans and Personnel, closing out his final 10 years as the Director, Force Development responsible for strategies, policies, and systems enabling the development of over 600,000 military and civilian members.
Russ and Laurie, his bride of 45 years, live in Gainesville VA close to their two daughters and six grandchildren.
Tandi Byrne's TV and film career began as a producer for a morning talk show featuring news on Trinity Broadcasting Network. She went on to become Public Affairs Director for the Network overseeing 29 full power stations in North America to fulfill FCC compliance. During her tenure over this Department, she developed a program to implement requirements for the Children's Television Act of 1990 when congress enacted extensive penalties -- giving the law more power. Drawing on her prior experience in early childhood education and work as a children's coach, she created an FCC program cited as an example to NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX by the industry FCC auditor.
Her work on Network children's programming foreshadowed greater things to come in her career...
It started with a move from News producer and Public Affairs Director into Television Production Dept. In TV studios, edit bays, control rooms, green rooms and on remotes, she gained hands-on experience in all aspects of television production.
Her experience spans five TBN international networks: Smile of A Child, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Jesus Christ Network TV, Al Horreya TV (Arabic), TBN Nejat (Farsi).
When Mary Rice Hopkins and Puppets with a Heart by Darcie Maze joined TBN's Saturday morning Children's lineup it was a natural fit for Byrne. She went on to write shows and direct the scenes featuring Child actors in these episodes. This leap from journalistic shows to scripted children's entertainment with MRHPWH was pure magic!
She is grateful for the gift Mary, Darcie, Greengo, Ohno and their zany friends gave her. They single handedly (with fury paws) help create her style and genre for movie script writing: High Concept Fantasy. Byrne is proud to be a part of Mary and Darcie and their Puppet family as they continue to bless new generations with the wonder of childhood &emdash; as the gang flourishes in a world that at times challenges their fury little hearts.
After 25 years practicing orthodontics in Escondido, California, Larry retired and is now an Assistant Clinical Professor at the USC School of Dentistry. He was on the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego for over 20 years.
He met Mary at a concert in Escondido when his children were young and has been "roped into" many of the Mary Rice Hopkins and Puppets with a Heart activities since then, including production logistics, props, cameras, continuity, catering, public relations... well, you get the idea!
He and his wife, Debbie, have two grown daughters.
Linda was born in the naval port of Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of a US Navy Master Chief. With the exception of 1 year living in Boston, Mass., and two years in Hanau, Germany, she has lived in the historic state of Virginia all of her life.
She now resides in the beautiful Roanoke Valley. She has spent many years in full-time ministry and is currently employed as an accountant with a Christian child care center in Roanoke and also serves as the Office Manager and Scheduling Coordinator for singer and songwriter Mary Rice Hopkins.
Ralph Winter is a Hollywood film producer who has helped to produce blockbuster movies such as the X-Men, Fantastic Four and Star Trek series as well as "I, Robot" and the first remake of "Planet of the Apes."
Winter is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has helped along such film schools as the Veracity Project, Biola University, and lectured at Regent College, Vancouver. He is also a member of the Entertainment & Tourism Management Advisory Board at the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton.
After retiring as a full-time pastor, Forrest Stone came to First Love, Anaheim First Church of the Nazarene, as part-time assistant.
His wife, Jan, is a very talented pianist who often accompanies Pastor Forrest as he sings with his beautiful tenor voice. She also serves on the Alumni Board and the Board of Trustees at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Pastor Forrest also serves as Treasurer for the entire Anaheim District of the Church of the Nazarene. The Stones raised two daughters and have two granddaughters.
Laurie has been an Early Childhood Educator for 25 years, teacher, program supervisor, curriculum specialist, director and workshop presenter. Currently she is the Director of Haymarket Baptist Church Preschool & Kindergarten, beginning her 9th year there, with over 300 children and 36 staff members.
She has been married 34 years. Husband, Russ served 27 years in the Air Force and continues to work for the AF at the Pentagon. The have moved all over the country serving in a variety of Christian schools-- Texas, Mississiippi, California, Washington State and Virginia. They have two grown daughters who grew up on Mary's music, and now have 3 granddaughters enjoying her music!
Phyllis works with her church in Olean, Indiana, raises funds for many charities and has a huge heart for helping families (as well as bringing Mary Rice Hopkins and Puppets with a Heart to their small town).
She loves to sing and work with the kids at her church which is contagious. She runs a Dairy Queen and she and her husband have 3 grown and married daughters and 5 grandchildren.
Gary is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BS in Aviation '86. He has worked for American Airlines for the past 27 years, and is currently a captain on the Boeing 737 aircraft based in Chicago, Illinois. He has been awarded the Presidential Call to Service for lifetime achievement in volunteerism. He began working with his sister, Darcie Maze, as a puppeteer when they were kids in central Ohio. He later rejoined her at TBN helping on many episodes as a puppeteer and set/prop constructor. He has been married to his lovely wife Linda for 34 years, and is a father of two, Garrett 27 and Page 24, all living in the Chicagoland area.