Shari Frink: The band's diverse and eclectic sound is deeply influenced by the rich musical backgrounds of each of its members, resulting in a unique blend of genres that spans pop, rock, Christian contemporary, blues, soul, and more.

Shari Frink, the lead vocalist, brings a wealth of experience from her roots in pop and Christian contemporary music. Having toured regionally as a solo artist and shared the stage with Christian music icons like Jaci Velasquez, Rebecca St. James, and Mark Schultz, Shari later expanded into mainstream music with bands and projects such as CoverGirl, Coastal Jamz, Fusion by Fire, and Saltwater Worship. Known for her distinctive voice and introspective lyrics, Shari is the band's primary lyricist and songwriter, crafting heartfelt, poetic songs that often have catchy hooks and explore deeper emotional themes. James "Jimmy" Bonito, composer and guitarist, has an extensive background in rock and alternative music, having performed with bands like GREYSCALE and The Crystal Method. In recent years, he transitioned into Christian music, contributing to various worship bands. His compositions are known for their skillful guitar work that blends rock, blues, and punk with classically inspired riffs, creating a dynamic sound that pushes boundaries.

Terynna Koehler, the backup vocalist who also plays synth, keys, rhythm guitar, and percussion, is known for her work in the Christian indie and folk music scenes. As a former lead singer of The Light Band and BROKEN, she has built a reputation for her soothing vocal style and introspective lyrics that explore themes of faith, love, and personal growth. Her melodic contributions bring an ethereal layer to the band's sound.

Michael "Detroit Mike" Hepner, keyboardist, organist, and pianist, began his career with multiple recording contracts, including Atlantic Records. He has performed with iconic artists like The Beach Boys and Brian Lee & The Trey Wanvig Band. Detroit Mike is celebrated for his unique contributions to the band, blending blues, jazz, and classical piano with an extraordinary touch that elevates the group's sound. Alonzo "Zo" Smith, the bassist, comes from a musical lineage that includes his father, drummer Tony Smith (from The Tony Smith Show in Chicago). As a career musician, Zo is skilled in several instruments, including keyboards, guitar, bass, and vocals. His early years in Chicago and nationwide touring with various musical acts, most recently The Collaboration Band from Southwest Florida, have cemented his place as a master of R&B, funk, and soul. His bass playing is both soulful and dynamic, filling the band's bottom end with unparalleled depth and groove.

Finally, Rich Pieters, the newest member of the band, is known for his work as a drummer in the rock and alternative music scenes throughout New York and Florida. A versatile and skilled percussionist, Rich has built a reputation for his tight rhythms, powerful drumming style, and adaptability across genres, including rock, blues, and punk. His contributions to both live performances and studio recordings bring a driving energy to the band's sound.

Brought together by ministry and our desire to create "Music with a Purpose" of bringing people closer to God, we are grateful for the blend of different styles the LORD has merged, in order to create songs we hope will speak of His goodness and purpose.

Shari: After our last conversation with JFH and the release of our single "Go Fish," we were contacted by representatives from another band already using the name "The Mission." This led to a situation where our music was mistakenly distributed under that name, forcing us to remove "Go Fish" from streaming platforms.

As we navigated this, I (Shari Frink) wrestled with using my own name for the band, as I didn't want to be caught up in ego, especially after past experiences where focusing on myself had distracted me from seeking the LORD first. It's easy to swing to the opposite extreme when we feel shame over something God is working on within us, but He calls us to stay centered in trusting Him. While the rest of the band initially wanted to use my name, we all felt strongly that "The Mission" was the right name for the ministry part of our music.

After facing disappointment, seeking legal advice, and most importantly, praying for guidance, we decided to rebrand as "Shari Frink & the Mission" to avoid confusion or misrepresentation in the future. It was a humbling process, but we believe it's where God has led us for this season and to build a foundation on whatever plans He has next for us.

Shari: To be honest, there wasn't any particular thought process behind "The Cure" - it was a completely organic outpouring of emotion. The chord progression actually came to me weeks before the lyrics, during a season of great joy. I sat down at the piano to play it out and tucked it away for later. A few days later, the lyrics just flowed to me, almost as if my spirit needed to release them. It was a quick, intense writing session that took less than an hour, and by the time I finished, I was in tears.

I didn't fully understand it at the time. I was in a beautiful season of life, and these words didn't reflect anything specific I was going through. But when I read and listened to them, the weight of Jesus' love and His salvation for a broken world overwhelmed me. It was like the song wasn't something I consciously created - it was something my heart needed to hear. It came from a deeper place than I could have tapped into on my own, and I know it wasn't by my own strength, wisdom, or ability - but rather a gift from the Father.

The rest of the song really came to life through collaboration with my bandmates. While I write the melodies and lyrics and can play basic piano, I'm not the mastermind behind the musical arrangements. I always knew that when the right sound came together, I'd recognize it - but we went through a lot of trial and error before finding it. One day, Mike and I sat down at the piano, and he started playing something, and that was it. It clicked. I think we got the piano part down in just three takes, and from there, the rest of the band added their own beautiful contributions, elevating the song beyond what I could have envisioned on my own. We all were in tears. It was a beautiful moment of community, collaboration and working as one together in the Spirit.

Shari: Some of the story behind "The Cure" is shared in my earlier answer, but what I didn't know at the time was how much I would personally need this song in the weeks that followed. We had planned to debut it at our next scheduled concert, but the week of that performance, my family was devastated by an incredibly tragic and violent event involving a close family member being shot, followed by their spouse taking their own life. It was a situation filled with unimaginable pain-gun violence, suicide, trauma to innocent children and devestating consequences. I was at a loss for how to process this, let alone explain it to my kids or even to myself. The only thing I could think was "Only Jesus".

The words from the song kept repeating in my mind: "He is the cure." He is the only cure. He is the way, the truth, and the life. In this fallen world, bad things have been and will continue to happen, but the hope we have is in Him. During that dark time, those words were the only thing I could cling to and I was so grateful for this song.

Shari: The lyrics of this song weren't written from any place of malice or judgement, but rather from a place of self-reflection, hope and gratefulness for a God that loves us so much He came to earth to save us. There are several verses that come to mind when I think on the message of this song. The first being John 3:16-19. Many Christians know and have memorized John 3:16 but in this time, the subsequent verses spoke an even deeper message to me:

"For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but will have eternal life. God sent His son into the world, not to judge the world, but to save the world THROUGH Him. There is no judgement against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgement is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil."

I can't speak for others but I know, examining myself, that there have been many times I have loved the darkness more than His light. The verse that speaks the loudest to me is "So how many bad decisions I've made turned a ripple into a tidal wave? And we scream out that 'God doesn't save' when He [actually is the one that] made the way!" I may never know the gravity of how decisions I've made, good or bad, have affected others. But my goal is to turn to the God that makes the Way. The God that doesn't waste things, even evil or painful things (Rom 8:28.) And to rely solely on His grace as my hope. I think this is a universal truth for believers and followers of Christ. It can be overwhelming and emotional, sometimes, but it is rooted in the HOPE of Christ, of which there is much joy.

Shari: Short answer: YES! It's funny how plans can change, and as the saying goes, "You make plans and God laughs." It reminds me of James' warning about being too self-assured (James 4:13-16). After we rebranded the group, we initially planned to re-release "Go Fish" and then roll out the tracks for the EP over several months, following the advice we'd received and researched. Everyone said this was the best approach for newer projects/artists. But as we moved forward, we kept feeling this strong pull to complete a full-length album instead.

We've had such incredible support at our live shows, with many fans asking for something they could listen to repeatedly. Going back to pressing physical albums and distributing them ourselves may seem counterintuitive in an age where technology is always advancing, but we trust that when God leads you toward something the world might see as outdated, His glory shines through in unexpected ways.

So, in obedience to that calling, we've decided to go ahead with the full-length album, which is slated for release to all major streaming platforms in May of this year. However, as a thank you to our friends. family and Live-Attendance Supporters, we will be offering physical CD's for purchase at our upcoming Live Events and Concerts as early as March, in order to give them a chance to hear the album before the rest of the world. We've already released a few singles to streaming platforms, and we can't wait to share the rest.

Shari: As we prepare for our debut release, we would simply ask for prayers that God's will be done through this music, in whatever way He intends. We'd be grateful if you'd listen to the music and, if you feel led, share it with others. You can also reach out to us through our website or contact cards if you know of any events or ministry opportunities where we might be a good fit or could inspire others. Above all, our desire is for the LORD to use this music and everything He's given us for His purpose and glory. www.TheMission123.com and Spotify

Shari: This is a tough one! I think I'd rather be the scientist over the test subject, but I suppose this would depend on the Sceintist's character and maybe also points to my desire to control things in my own strength, which is something I'm still working on surrendering!