He is a celebrity across eastern and central Africa, a gospel music star known to many as the "Dancing Priest." But for years he also was a keeper of painful secrets - his own and many others.

The City of Dearborn will publicly apologize and pay an undisclosed amount of money to a group of Christian missionaries arrested three years ago while proselytizing at the annual Arab International Festival, according to a settlement reached in a lawsuit against the city.

MUSIC AND ARTS

For half a century, she's greeted parents and preschoolers in Modesto. Today, she counts doctors, lawyers, architects, police officers and a Nashville songwriter among her graduates, proving it's not such a small world after all.

Thursday is the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer, and community observances will be held around Stanislaus County. The national event, which encourages prayer at noon Thursday, has the theme "Pray for America: emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities and men."

Religion Digest (4/21/13)

Religion Digest (4/7/13)

John Ortberg's newest book, "Who Is This Man? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus," looks at the impact of the carpenter from Galilee. Believe in Jesus or not, Ortberg said, but you can't escape the fact that he has split history, influenced education, impacted science and much more.

Much of the Christian world today celebrates Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. Whether or not you believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God, as author and pastor John Ortberg says in his latest book, there is no mistaking the impact of his life.

Families joined Modesto area churches for song and prayer on an Easter Sunday that was at times somber and celebratory, with weather to match.