Although Michael and Lisa Gungor have been making faith-influenced music for many years, it was the 2010 release of "Beautiful Things" that would help them explode onto the broader worship scene. They would quickly gain a reputation for being a crucial voice of worship for the progressive Christian movement, key players in finding a language for a tradition of the faithful rarely represented on the mainstream musical stage.

They are not the only Gungors to be playing that kind of role. Michael Gungor's brother David Gungor has also been growing an increasingly influential voice through The Brilliance, a project he helms alongside John Arndt. Both brothers have also contributed to and drawn from the work of countless others in the faith-based-art community, fostering a creative synergy that has built a family beyond just their own name. As The Brilliance is poised to release their poignant and timely album All Is Not Lost, I thought I'd break down for you some of the far-reaching connections and influences of the Gungor family.

1. Gungor
The obvious place to start is the best-known act. Gungor grew from Michael Gungor's initial project The Michael Gungor Band, and their approach to their art quickly gained a reputation for challenging and refining the worship music norm. Their non-traditional, experimental, but deeply spiritual releases most recently led to the One Wild Life trilogy of albums (Spirit, Soul and Body).

2. The Brilliance
David Gungor's The Brilliance spent some of their early days touring in support of Gungor before solidifying a record deal with Integrity Music. The Brilliance's approach holds a deep reverence for the liturgy of the church, working traditional language through subtle soundscapes. Hopeful All Is Not Lost feels like the latest entry in the rich history of the Church's worship.

3. Ed Gungor

Michael and David Gungor are not the first in their family to lend their words to the Christian faith. Their father, Ed Gungor, began the tradition through his work as a New York Times bestselling author. Today Ed Gungor continues to serve as an author and as a pastor, roles to which he brings the same thoughtfulness and attitude of theological exploration that his sons bring to their music. He's not the only theologian in the Gungor generation that came before Michael and David: Mark Gungor, author of Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage, is the brothers' uncle.

4. The Liturgists
The Liturgists is a podcast and an artist collective, stating as their self-proclaimed mission a goal to provide refuge for the spiritually homeless. Through the podcast, they explore the harder questions of faith, art and science. Through their music, they create experiences that both ground themselves in the history of the Church and challenge what we think of when we approach liturgies. Fellow artists like All Sons & Daughters and Sleeping At Last have contributed in the past. You can find out more at theliturgists.com. 

5. Israel Houghton
Revered worship leader Israel Houghton has collaborated several times with Michael and Lisa Gungor in the past, both in the writing process and in joint performances. Some of their collaborations include Gungor's "Heaven" and Israel Houghton's "Say So." Although seemingly an unlikely pairing, the artists combined efforts have fostered a refreshing and unique worship experience.

6. Kevin Olusula (Pentatonix)
One of the lesser-known musical connections the Gungors have made is to Kevin Olusula, cellist, beat boxer and one fifth of massively popular acapella ground Pentatonix. Throughout 2011, Kevin toured with Michael and Lisa Gungor, rounding out their ensemble with both cello and beatboxing. He featured in several of their performance videos filmed around this time. 

7. B.Reith
Pop/hip-hop singer B.Reith has built a reputation for himself through hard work, smooth and soulful vocals and countless collaborations with fellow artists. One of those collaborations was with Lisa Gungor, who provided vocals alongside Lecrae on B.Reith's 2011 song "Made for More." Lisa's pure tones provide a contrast to B.Reith and Lecrae, helping tell the story of some broken teenagers. B.Reith's friendship with and admiration for Gungor also led to his live loop cover of their song "You Have Me," which you can watch here.  

8. Jars of Clay
Given that both bands have become voices for the spiritual sojourners, it made sense for Jars of Clay and Gungor to collaborate. The result of that collaboration is "We Will Follow," a song that fittingly appeared on Jars Of Clay's community-centric 2010 album The Shelter. The band also performed several live shows together around the timeframe of the song's release.