top of page

the
Many

The Many is a creative collective making music and new kinds of inclusive, justice-building gatherings that offer space for faith and doubt, lament and gratitude. The feet-on-the-ground, heart-in-hands songs and liturgies they create remind us we aren’t alone. And they help us find the courage to authentically love God, ourselves, and everyone in this whole, aching world.

Download PDF Info Sheet

Darren Kristina and Christa.jpg

Meet The Many

Darren Calhoun

Darren, who’s been with The Many for over 9 years, is an Associate Fellow with Christians for Social Action, digital pastor at Chicago's Urban Village Church, and deeply committed to helping people and organizations become more authentic, inclusive communities of love and justice. A sought-after speaker, worship leader, podcaster, and advocate, he also produces online shows reaching BIPOC Queer audiences with messages of support and healing. Peabody-nominated Second Sunday, the podcast Darren co-hosted about Black queer people finding, keeping, and sometimes losing faith, won Best Podcast of 2024 from the Black Podcasting Awards (BPAwards). Darren also heads up audio and visual production for The Many.

Christa outdoor headshot_edited.jpg

Christa Sangster

Christa is one of the lead singers in The Many. She’s also a poet, musician, songwriter, and worship leader with a rich background in gospel, pop, and folk music. She holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Southern Illinois University, and while a student at McCormick Seminary in Chicago, she helped lead their chapel worship. A justice and racial equity advocate, and toxic religion survivor, Christa can be found making music around the Chicagoland area and abroad, including singing at the Conference of The Parliament of World Religions. Christa also stays very busy raising two amazing kids.

Gabriel Mudd

Gabriel is a multi-hyphenate singer-songwriter-choreographer-producer-actor-voiceover artist-performance coach, former worship pastor, and one of the lead singers of The Many. His numerous theater credits include the national tours of A Chorus Line and the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The worship director for Q Christian Fellowship, Gabriel co-founded the Q Worship Collective, created to provide a community for queer people who have been traumatized in church spaces, but want to share and reclaim their connection with the Divine. A conversion-therapy survivor, Gabriel works to make sure everyone feels like they belong and can be their whole selves, whatever space they’re in.

Kristina Sinks

Kristina is one of the lead singers in The Many and an Ordained Deacon in the UMC. She holds an MA in Public Ministry from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and, along with her work at The Many, writes eco-justice worship materials, advocates for peace in Palestine, and promotes the full inclusion of LGBTIA+ individuals in the church. She serves as Systems & Internship Coordinator for GreenFaith, an international, interfaith climate justice movement. Kristina is also the unsung hero who does the amazing work of managing The Many's travel booking and scheduling. She loves to cook and spend time outdoors with her fiancée, Rev. Abby Holcombe, and their beloved puppy Habibi.

Liza Micelli

Liza, the keyboardist for The Many, is a multi-talented pianist, composer, and educator. With degrees from Columbia College of Chicago, The Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute of Boston, her experience is wide-ranging and diverse, from headlining major events like the Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico to working as the on-screen keyboardist for FOX’s hit show Empire. Currently, she teaches choir and orchestra at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, and her labor of love is curating educational experiences that celebrate the Indigenous contributions to American Music. She is married to the drummer, Peter Mack…and yes, they make beautiful music together.

Gary and Lenora.jpg

Gary & Lenora Rand

Lenora and Gary are the co-directors of The Plural Guild - the collective behind The Many. Lenora is the main writer for The Many, crafting the amazing lyrics and liturgies The Many performs. Lenora also owns her business, "SmallGood," which helps organizations trying to grow more good in the world. Gary, a former worship leader and professor produces, performs, and writes songs with The Many, as well as consults with churches on worship renewal.

Eben Logan

Eben is one of the lead singers in The Many. She brings a rich background to the band as a singer, actor, worship leader, and believer in the power of beloved community. Her love for worship and music began when she started singing in her grandparents’ church as a young child. Before joining The Many, Eben has been part of various worship bands, praise teams, and choirs. Eben is also an acclaimed actor - some of her credits include the 2015 National Tour of Memphis, as well as Ragtime, and A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre in DC. Eben also won acclaim, and a Jeff Award, for her role as Celie in The Color Purple at Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre.

IMG_6797.HEIC

Collaborators

There are many people who are a part of The Many. We bring in additional musicians, poets, and artists frequently. Including Jenna Lindbo, Kate Hurley, Ben Grace, and more.

Concrete Wall

Brian Blount, President, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA

"[The Many] offer a unique vision and word in the way they celebrate the gift of God's presence in our world. Following their powerful displays of ministry in the classroom and the chapel, I felt even more passionately energized about the gospel message and my role in sharing it."

Previous Events

The Many have become a significant creative voice in the movement for inclusion, justice and mercy across a diverse church landscape. Here are just a few of the places they've led music and worship:

wild goose.jpeg

Wild Goose Festival

Festival of Homiletics

Sojourner's Summit

Evolving Faith

ELCA Youth Leader's Extravaganza

unnamed-6 copy_edited.png

Matthew 25

Remind & Renew

Phillips Theological Seminary

Longest Night Instagram Square.png

Longest Night Gatherings

ORGANIZATIONS WE'VE PARTNERED WITH

PAL_2613 (1).jpg

Denominational Conferences & Gatherings

CALIFORNIA

California-Nevada UMC

DELAWARE

New Castle Presbytery

ILLINOIS

Illinois UCC

Illinois South UCC

Northern Illinois UMC

INDIANA

Indiana UMC

Indiana Kentucky UCC

MINNESOTA

Minnesota UMC
Minnesota UCC

OHIO

Heartland Conference of the UCC

OREGON

Central Pacific Conference UCC

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin UCC

People We've Worked With

Brian McLaren_edited.jpg

Brian McLaren

lenny duncan_edited.jpg

Lenny Duncan

DSCF6920 Flamy Grant CROP_0_edited.jpg

Flamy Grant

Rev. William Barber

Nadia Bolz-Weber

karen-georgia-thompson-headshot_edited.j

Karen Georgia Thompson

Sarah Bessey

cin salach_edited.jpg

cin salach

bottom of page