Our Staff
Scott Christenson, Senior Pastor -
Education: B.A., Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, 1992. M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1996.
Personal Info: Born in Bloomington, Minnesota. Married to Linda since 1992. They have two sons.
Enjoys: Acoustic guitar, cheering for the Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Vikings!
What I love about my job: Watching people who thought they could never do anything for God now doing significant, life-impacting ministry.
Bible verse with special personal meaning: Psalm 16:11 "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
John Scott, Outreach Pastor -
Education: B.A., B.S. Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, 2002. M.Div., Concordia Seminary, St Louis, Missouri, 2006.
Personal Info: Born in Chicago Heights, IL. Married to Erin. They have two sons, Ethan and Miles.
Enjoys: Cheering for Chicago sports teams, playing/listening to music, spending time with family, reading, good coffee!
What I love about my job: Connecting people with Jesus. Leading and encouraging others to do likewise. It’s the best ‘job’ ever!
Bible verse with special personal meaning: 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Steve Deombeleg, Hispanic Outreach Pastor -
Education: B.A., Concordia University, Irvine, California, 2000. M.Div., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 2004
Personal Info: Born in Santa Cruz, California. Married to Sharlyn since 2003. They have two children, Steven and Olivia.
Enjoys: Music, travel, sports, great food, cooking/BBQ, nature/outdoors, and being with my family.
What I love about my job: Meeting people, building relationships, and watching God transform their lives.
Bible verse with special personal meaning: Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Jim Bauman, Visitation Pastor -
Education: B.A., Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1964; M.A. Cantab., Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, 1970; M.Div., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 1970.
Personal Info: Born in Decatur, Illinois. He has four children, two sons and two daughters, ranging in age from 13 to 25. And two dogs.
Enjoys: Swimming, time by lakes and oceans, walking, cooking out for family and friends, working with words (including composing hymns).
What I love about my job: Sharing in the lives of other Christians, observing how their faith sustains them in difficult times or brings them abundant life. Also, preaching a helpful sermon or teaching a life-changing Bible class. Being useful to God.
Bible verse with special personal meaning: "The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1, which I chose as my Confirmation verse.
Timothy Kaufmann, Director of Student Ministry -
Education: B.A., Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, 1992, in Elementary Education. DCE degree in 1993.
Personal Info: Married to Joy. They have a son, Jonah, and a daughter, Hannah.
Enjoys: Computers, movies, and spending time with family.
What I love about my job: Seeing students, alive with Christ, grow in their relationship with Him and others through service and leadership.
Bible verse with special personal meaning: (I love the reference to "youth" in this passage, but it is a verse that constantly restores me in my service to God) Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Joy Kaufmann, Student Ministry Assistant -
Education: B.A., Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, 1994, in Elementary Education and Director of Christian Education (D.C.E.).
Personal Info: Married to Tim. They have a son, Jonah, and a daughter, Hannah.
Enjoys: Quiet time with my Bible, spending time with family and friends, crafts, and movies.
What I love about my job: Fulfilling my call to be a minister and Educator of God’s word to the students and families so they can develop a growing personal relationship with their Savior and best friend, Jesus! It’s a very rewarding ministry!!!
Jeni Walker, Children's Ministry Director -
Education: Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, Early Childhood Education and Youth Ministry.
Personal Info: Married to Glynn. They have a son, Jordan, and a daughter, Ashleigh.
Enjoys: Reading, swimming, and basket weaving.
What I love about my job: Listening to the early childhood students sing on Sunday morning!
Bible verse with special personal meaning: Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
Diana Vander Pas, Director of Small Group Ministry -
Education: B.A., Rutgers University, Douglas College, double major: Psychology and Communications.
Personal Info: Married to Tim and together have 5 children.
Enjoys: Traveling, trying new ethnic cuisines, playing the flute.
What I love about my job: The most exciting part of my job is the opportunity to bring people into a loving, caring, environment — a safe environment where they can learn, grow, and build each other up in Christ.
A Bible verse with special personal meaning: Psalm 46:10a “Be still, and know that I am God;”
Susan Klemstein, Director of Outreach and Assimilation -
Education: B.S. in Accounting and minor in theology, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, 1992. Masters in Management, Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Evanston, Illinois, 1999
Personal Info: Born in Elgin, Illinois. Married to Brian since 1998. They have two children, Allison and Nathan.
Enjoys: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and music.
What I love about my job: I love Jesus and our church, and I get to spend my day helping people get to know both of them better!
Bible verse with special personal meaning: Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Prince of Peace Administrative Staff:
 Dennis Freres, Parish Administrator () |
 Sandy Wunluck, Administrative Assistant () |
 Sharon Brunks, Administrative Assistant () |
 Gloria Freres, Publications Coordinator () |
 Judy Kiehl, Bookkeeper () |
 Mary Mattes, Nursery Coordinator |
 Dawn Lange, Nursery Coordinator |
 James Gruben, Building Services |