Thomas Bunnett, Grace Lutheran Church, San Diego:
We were there all the time. There was not a church service or special occasion that we didn't attend. It's like I grew up at church. When I started elementary school, I was there every day at First Lutheran Church and First Lutheran School in Long Beach. At age nine, my best friend's mother asked me, "And what are you going to be when you grow up?" I answered, "a minister." At age 10, on a Sunday trip to the San Diego Zoo, we went to church first. We went to Grace Lutheran. I was so impressed with the organ, stained glass windows, tile floor, parchment shades on the lights of the lectern, that it was my mental model of what a "real church" should be. Now, I'm the minister, called "Pastor," at Grace Lutheran Church and School. The mother who guided me through this Christian experience, who is now in her 91st year and makes her home in San Diego, said to me after every Christmas musical program back then: "Tommy, I could hear you above all the rest." What that meant to me was "you are special." It was her way of saying it. It helps me to remember. "I could hear you above all the rest." "You are special to me; you are special to God." I never forgot it. I never will. Thanks, Mom!

Pastor Steven Barnard, Metro Church, La Mesa:
There were many, many things my mother said... "Anything worth doing is worth doing well." "Respect others and they will respect you." "Be nice to your sister." "Everybody makes mistakes. Not everybody learns from them." "A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats others." "Smile." "Be a good listener." "Don't criticize, compliment." "Don't forget to check in." "Call me when you get there." "Pray." "Pray through." "The only way to win an argument is not to have it." "Always show respect to other people's opinions." "If you're wrong, admit it." "Brush your teeth, comb your hair and show respect for yourself." "Who are you trying to impress?" "Use encouragement before criticism." "Everybody fails, not everybody tries again." "Play by the rules. No cheating. There are no shortcuts." "Hard work pays off. "Wait 'till your father gets home." "Ask your father." "If you get lost, go back to the last place you saw me." "I didn't make any spare parts." "I love you, but Jesus loves you more." My parents, Dr. Jerry and Sandi Barnard are pastors of Metro Church in Daytona Beach, Fla.