The Innocence Mission (stylized as the innocence mission on all releases since 1995) is an American folk rock band centered on husband-and-wife singer-songwriters Karen and Don Peris. The original group, including Mike Bitts (bass guitar) and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 1980s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell. Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris is its principal writer.