Lutheran Unity School 
Faith-Family-Future
773-342-5854 (East) |  708-867-5044 (West)
3740 W. Belden Ave. Chicago, IL. 60647     5650 N. Canfield Ave. Chicago, IL. 60631
Our Religious Education Faculty
Rev. David Bass-pastordbass@aol.com
West Campus 7th Grade Religion

Rev. David Bass is the Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lutheran Unity School West Campus. He grew up in Chicago and attended Farnsworth Elementary and Taft High School, graduating in 1995. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and served three years on active duty. Upon returning home from the Army, he worked as a laborer in the construction industry before continuing undergraduate studies at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois and St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2003. He married his wife, Katy in 2003 and began graduate studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis that same year. He graduated in May of 2007 and accepted his first call from the Seminary as Associate Pastor to Katy’s home church, Holy Cross Lutheran, Nederland, Texas. In February of 2008, they were blessed with the arrival of their first child, Anna. Katy’s nieces, Chloe and Bethany also live with Katy and Dave after their mother passed away in June of 2008.After serving Holy Cross Lutheran as Associate Pastor for almost four years, Pastor Dave accepted the Divine Call to serve as Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was installed as Pastor on June 26, 2011.  During his down time, Pastor Dave enjoys spending time with his family, reading, gardening and an occasional game of golf. One of his favorite Bible verses is: "I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength." Phil 4:13


Rev. Dr. Vernon Earl Wendt Jr.-vernwendt@aol.com
West Campus 7th Grade Religion

Rev. Wendt is a native of Michigan. He received his B.A. from Concordia College-Ann Arbor in 1986. He has a Master of Divinity (1990), as well as a PhD in Missiology (2000) from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dr. Wendt has served as sole pastor of St. Paul and St. Philip Lutheran Churches in Jackson, Mississippi, Christ English Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, and Grace Lutheran Church in Los Angeles. He also served as the English speaking pastor and mission developer at Bethel Lutheran Church in Seoul, South Korea. He is married to MiRan (Lee) whom he met while serving in Seoul.

Dr. Wendt's dissertation, "The Application of the Christian Faith by Small College Christian American Athletes within the Sport of Basketball" was published by the University of Oregon Microform Publications in Sport and Human Performance. Dr. Wendt has a deep passion for sharing the love of Jesus with others that they "may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18). The greatest evidence of that love is in His sending His only begotten Son to suffer and die on the cross, that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)! Dr. Wendt was installed as Messiah's pastor, July 1st, 2012.


Rev. Christopher Browne-pastor-oslcms@sbcglobal.net
West Campus 6th Grade Religion
When he entered college [MIT], Rev. Browne thought he was going to become an astrophysicist. God had other plans. Before he knew it, he had graduated from Concordia College in New York with a degree in Elementary Eduction & Music Education and was teaching at a Lutheran School in Brooklyn, and playing the organ for the tri-lingual congregation (German, English, and Spanish). There he met and married Isabelle. Later both of their children were baptized there: Josh on Christmas Eve soon after his adoption was finalized, and 'Becca in June after. "Mr. Browne" started teaching Math at Martin Luther High School in Maspeth, NY (because he had earned a Master's degree in Math from Northwestern previously, he was made Department Chairman).

The Brownes continued to bounce back and forth from New York to Chicago. When teaching at Concordia University at River Forest in math, "Prof. Browne was, well, not a smashing success, to put it lightly. Where a door had closed, God opened a window, and in 2000 Rev. Browne was ordained and installed at St. Philip Lutheran on Bryn Mawr near Western Ave. While serving as pastor wasn't an altogether smooth ride, he "bounced" to Our Saviour in 2009 where he still accompanies services by piano or organ from time to time (but never teaches math, other than occasional tutoring). Last year he was the 7-8th Grade Religion Teacher at Unity East. This year he teaches 6th Grade Religion at Unity West. 

Julianna Scultz-dceshults@gmail.com
West Campus 8th Grade Religion
Julianna Shults grew up in Topeka, KS with parents, Rick and Marilyn, and two younger siblings, Christina and Alex. Julianna attended Concordia University in Seward, NE and graduated in 2004 with a BA in Psychology and Director of Christian Education Certification with an emphasis in youth and family ministry.

In August of 2004, Julianna started an internship at Hope Lutheran Church in Plant City, FL. Even after three hurricanes, she accepted the call to serve as DCE and was greatly blessed by the congregation. In June of 2008, Julianna accepted the call to St. Paul to serve as Director of Children and Youth Ministry. Only in the middle of winter does she regret leaving Florida's tropical climate.

God has a crazy sense of humor, and has led Julianna to be a speaker at the 2007 LCMS National Youth Gathering, 2007 and 2010 National Lutheran Educators Association Convocation, the 2006 Fl-Ga Jr. High District Gathering, and the 2007 Fl-Ga Sr. High District Gathering. In 2005 one of her devotions was published in the book Hindsight. Julianna is currently the Pop Culture blogger at www.youthesource.com. She has also been on 14 mission trips throughout the US, Mexico and China.

Julianna loves to read, craft, and watch YouTube videos in her free time. She drinks entirely too much coffee and doesn’t like to do dishes. She loves to spend time talking with new people and going to new places. She teaches 8th grade religion at Lutheran Unity West.

Rev. Fernando Gomez-viniciogomez@yahoo.com
East Campus 6-8th Religion