ABOUT US

Mission Abundant Life Academy will share the love of God with students and their families while maintaining academic excellence. 

Foundational Scripture

“And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13 

History of the School 

Back in 1918, an Italian Evangelist, Joseph Santamaria, began a mission in Nutley. People began giving their hearts to the Lord. A church soon formed which became the Italian Pentecostal Church of Nutley. The church grew and flourished under three different pastors. In 1970 Rev. Peter Bruno Sr. became the fourth pastor of the church and continues as such to this present day. Thereafter the church name was changed to Nutley Abundant Life Worship Center. 

In 1986, Abundant Life Academy was established as a ministry of Abundant Life Worship Center to fulfill God’s mandate for truth in the education of God’s heritage. After much prayer, Bishop Bruno appointed Rev. Joseph T. Cancelliere, one of the church elders, to the position of School Principal. Abundant Life Academy (originally Nutley Assembly Christian School) was born from that moment.

The school began with only 35 students from Pre-K to 3rd Grade. It outgrew its facility in 1989 and moved to Bloomfield, New Jersey at the Forest Glen Elementary School. The school quickly increased to include a complete elementary and middle school.

After four years at the Forest Glen Elementary School, the Lord began to bless the church in a great way. In 1995, the church purchased a building on seven acres of land at the old I.T.T. Property in Nutley, New Jersey. A name change was adopted and passed. Abundant Life Academy began classes at its new location in September 1995 and continues to carry out God’s mandate in the education process.

In 2009, Abundant Life Academy achieved dual accreditation status with both Association of Christian Schools International and the Middle States. During the year 2011, we celebrated our 25th anniversary. The fall of 2012 marked another milestone: 400 students. Our enrollment, programs, and service continue to grow, but one thing remains the same: we are dependent on the blessing of the Lord. In 2014 our school received reaccreditation by ACSI and Middle States and an initial accreditation by NAPS.

Today Abundant Life Academy is still a ministry of Abundant Life Church led by Senior Pastor Louis D’Elia Sr. and assisted by our Superintendent John Keubler. They are in constant fellowship with the administrative staff of the school and assist in the decision making process so that the vision of Christian education can continue to progress. 

“I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt.” - Martin Luther

Abundant Life Academy is an evangelical Christian school community with students from many different churches and over 40 different towns and cities around Northern New Jersey. Students do not have to be a part of a Christian church as long as parents sign our Covenant Agreement stating they know their children will be taught from a Christian perspective. At the high school level, students who want to transfer in may be asked about their relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Vision Abundant Life Academy will be a loving and effective private Christian school. We will guide our students to academic excellence and a life of service to our Lord Jesus Christ. Abundant Life Academy will produce students and graduates who love the Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ALA students will thrive as worshippers, diligent students of scripture, and prayer warriors. They will excel in evangelism and Christian service. 

Abundant Life Academy admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies,scholarship and assistance programs, athletics and other school administered programs.

ALA Facts:  ALA was founded in 1986 with 35 students enrolled. 

ALA’s largest senior graduating class was in 2020 with 38 graduates. 

NALWC and ALA are housed on a 7+ acre campus that is convenient to many major highways in New Jersey. 

ALA has been accredited by three different organizations: Association of Christian Schools International, Middle States Association, and National Association of Private Schools.

Our building is almost 200,000 square feet and includes a beautiful gymnasium and library, multiple Chromebook and Ipad labs to enhance learning as well as a school garden. 

ALA partners with the University of Valley Forge and Oral Roberts University to offer dual credit courses to our high school juniors and seniors. 

ALA’s Varsity Girls Volleyball team has won the MCAA Championship 7 of the last 8 years. 

Statement of Faith

We believe the Holy Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit, that they are infallible and are God's Word revealed.

We believe that scripture teaches that there is only one true and living God who has chosen to reveal Himself as Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

We believe that man is sinful, being in need of redemption. 

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth and that He is the Son of God and the Son of Man. We believe He came to save men from condemnation of sin by offering His blood as atonement and that this salvation is available to all who exercise faith in Him.

We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. 

We believe the Scriptures ascribe to the Holy Spirit the acts and attributes of an intelligent Being. We believe the works of God ascribed to the Holy Spirit are creation, inspiration, the giving of life and sanctification. 

We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling one is enabled. This power is available to those who ask for it.

We believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, and that it is given to believers who ask for it. 

We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost - the lost to everlasting damnation and the saved to everlasting life. 

We believe in the personal, imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We believe the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayers.

We believe that God has marvelously made men and women in His image and likeness and that each person is made either male or female. This identity and gender is assigned by God. We believe marriage is ordained by God and is between a man and woman. Psalms 119:14, Genesis 1:27

We believe that the only true meaning of marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, monogamous union as set forth in Genesis 2:18-25 and Matthew 19:5-6.