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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.
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 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 & 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.
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.
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 Festival
Festival of Homiletics
Sojourner's Summit
Evolving Faith
ELCA Youth Leader's Extravaganza
Matthew 25
Remind & Renew
Longest Night Gatherings
ORGANIZATIONS WE'VE PARTNERED WITH
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Denominational Conferences & Gatherings
CALIFORNIA
California-Nevada UMC
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DELAWARE
New Castle Presbytery
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ILLINOIS
Illinois UCC
Illinois South UCC
Northern Illinois UMC
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INDIANA
Indiana UMC
Indiana Kentucky UCC
MINNESOTA
Minnesota UMC
Minnesota UCC
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OHIO
Heartland Conference of the UCC
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OREGON
Central Pacific Conference UCC
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin UCC
People We've Worked With
Brian McLaren
Lenny Duncan
Flamy Grant
Rev. William Barber
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Karen Georgia Thompson
Sarah Bessey
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