"I have been to Africa many times in search of my cultural identity, but it was in the Highlands that I found the cultural roots of black America."

Willie Ruff, Yale University music professor and jazz musician, on his researched claim that gospel music has more roots in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland than in Africa.

"It's the Christ story for an American audience, with a lot of action."

Alfred Gough, producer of the Superman-themed television show Smallville.

"Here we were raising money through bingo when we could have instead been maybe knocking on doors, teaching about God."

Jim Hobert, former pastor of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona, on how church bingo has almost disappeared because of clergy concern and the rise of large casinos.

"Can you imagine what this world would be like if there was no one praying 24 hours a day?"

Sister Malinda Gerke, of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin, which has prayed around the clock without stopping since 1878.

Sources: The Independent, USA Today, Arizona Daily Star, Voice of America

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.

Our digital archives are a work in progress. Let us know if corrections need to be made.

Issue: