KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS!!

In an era of reality television, audiences can watch almost anything—from real-life housewives to young New Jersey partygoers to a high-stakes weight-loss competition. Now pastors are joining in on the action.

Oxygen Media has recently given the green light for a new show with the working title Pastors of L.A., an “authentic docu-series” set to premiere this fall.

The series will feature Bishop Noel Jones, Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon, pastor Wayne Chaney, Bishop Ron Gibson and pastor Jay Haizlip.

“Pastors of L.A. documents these larger-than-life characters who are rock stars in their communities with a fresh, unique perspective that will resonate with our young audience,” explains Rod Aissa, Oxygen Media's senior vice president of original programming and development.

A press release says the show “will give viewers a candid and revealing look at six boldly different and world-renowned mega-pastors in Southern California, who are willing to share diverse aspects of their lives—from their work in the community and with their parishioners to the very large and sometimes provocative lives they lead away from the pulpit.”

The television network has teamed up with Lemuel Plummer, the creator and executive producer ofVindicated and producer of The Sheards, and Holly Carter, creator and executive producer of 106 & Gospel and executive producer of The Sheards, for the new series.

“We are delighted to work with Oxygen to develop this groundbreaking series on the extraordinary lives of some of the most prominent pastors in America,” Plummer says. “I come to this project with a respect and understanding of their world, having grown up as the son of a pastor and religious broadcasters. We intend to portray the human side of these pastors and the real world in which they live and work.”

Carter, an industry veteran in faith and inspirational development and programming who holds a doctorate in divinity and is the daughter of a pastor, adds: “This show documents a journey of transparency from one man to the next as they endeavor to lead others to their own truth and self-discovery. It’s a dose of reality and a pound of redemption coming from a creative team reared in the church.”

Jones, the brother of famed actress and singer Grace Jones, is the lead pastor of Refuge Church in Gardena, Calif. His 17,000-member megachurch is said to be home to several celebrities. The 63-year-old pastor is headed toward retirement and looking for a successor.

Haddon—a singer, songwriter, producer and former pastor—was shunned by Kingdom Culture Church in Detroit when he divorced from his wife, Damita, in 2011. He surprised fans when he revealed this year that he fathered a child out of wedlock and was engaged to be married.

“She did get pregnant before my divorce was final, as my divorce carried on for over a year,” Haddon wrote on his Facebook page, saying they both repented of their sins and have submitted to spiritual leadership. “I have not preached on any platform in any church for one year!! I’ve paid my penalty for my sin!!” he said.

In the end, 24-40 people will be chosen to be the first settlers on a planet other than Earth, with four flying every two years to Mars beginning in 2022. 

Mars One, the nonprofit with the goal of establishing a human settlement on the planet, announced the milestone, two weeks into a 19 week application period.

"This is turning out to be the most desired job in history," said Bas Lansdorp, co-founder and CEO of Mars One, in the announcement. "These numbers put us right on track for our goal of half a million applicants.”

The journey to Mars is one-way because after a prolonged stay in a weightless environment, the human body will not be able to adjust to the higher gravity of Earth upon return, according to Mars One.

Grammy award-winning singer Lauryn Hill was sentenced Monday to three months in federal prison for failing to pay taxes on more than $2 million in earnings during a five-year period.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark, N.J. federal court also sentenced the famed rapper and actress to three months of home confinement with electronic monitoring after the prison term. Hill must also serve a year of supervised release and pay a $60,000 fine in addition to paying her tax debt to the IRS.

Hill is a 37-year-old South Orange, N.J. resident who won fame as a member of the Fugees and then launched a solo career that included the Grammy-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill . She pleaded guilty last year in the tax case.

In a courtroom statement to Arleo, Hill said she had always intended to pay the overdue taxes eventually, but found herself unable to raise the money during a period when she had dropped out of the music business.

Hill had faced a maximum sentence of one year each on three counts. Her lawyer, Nathan Hochman, had argued for probation.

Hochman said Hill had paid more than $970,000 to satisfy her tax liabilities.

Last month, Hill used Tumblr to address media reports that stated she'd reached new label deal with Sony Worldwide Entertainment to release music that would help her pay the tax debts. Hill confirmed a deal with Sony but said the reported nature of the deal and dollar amounts involved were inaccurate.

"I have been working towards this for a long time, not just because of my current legal situation, but because I am an artist, I love to create, and I need the proper platform to do so," Hill wrote.

• Three women who have been missing for the last decade have been found alive at a home in Cleveland, Ohio. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, Michelle Knight and fourth person not yet named are recovering in hospital.

• Three men aged 50, 52, and 54 have been arrested. One of the men lived in the house. In a 911 call made after she escaped Berry identified herself and said she had been missing for ten years.

• Police said a six-year-old was found in the home as well as the three missing women. Police raided the property after a neighbour, Charles Ramsey, heard Berry's shouts and freed her and a young girl.

• Berry went missing aged 16 on 21 April 2003, after she called her sister to say she was getting a ride home from her job at a Burger King. DeJesus went missing at age 14 on her way home from school about a year later. Knight went missing in 2002 and is 32 now.