A Church on Madison Avenue in Dumont
Living Word Community Church meets at 53 East Madison Avenue in Dumont, New Jersey, a quiet Bergen County borough sitting just across the Hudson from upper Manhattan. The church describes itself as a multi-ethnic, multi-generational congregation that wants to be known for one thing above all: connecting people to Jesus and to one another. Its motto, "Empowering Lives Through the Word," points to the same focus from the other direction. A phone number (201-384-0052) and an email at Info@LivingWordAlive.com are the front door for newcomers who would rather reach out first.
Experience, Connect, Respond
Life at Living Word is organized around three words: Experience, Connect, Respond. Members talk about experiencing the one true God every day, about intentionally connecting with God and with others on the same faith journey, and about responding to God's call through worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and service. The language is unhurried and down to earth. "No hype, no fluff - just authentic faith lived out in joyful community," the church says. The hope is that anyone who walks through the door will find "a safe place to explore your beliefs and connect with others," a place where "every person brings something special to the table."
Sundays at 10:30 and Wednesdays at 7:00
Sunday morning worship begins at 10:30 a.m. in the main sanctuary. A second weekly gathering meets on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m., giving the church two anchors in the week. Both services are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, where a sermon archive is also available for catch-up listening at any time. For those in the room, offerings can be dropped in a giving box at the back of the sanctuary; giving is also accepted online through a secure platform and by mail to the Madison Avenue address. The church frames giving as an act of worship: "God is generous and so He calls us to be as well. What we do with what God has given us shows the world where our hearts are at and helps proclaim the gospel."
LW Kids
Children are a major part of Sunday morning at Living Word. The kids' ministry uses a curriculum designed by age and is led by screened adult volunteers from the church. The nursery welcomes children from walking age through age 3. "Super Church" takes Pre-K through Grade 5, and a Middle School track serves Grades 6 through 8. The goal, the church says, is for children to know God personally, to find their identity in the Word, and to live in a way that pleases the Lord. "It's our hope that children will not only know about God, but would know Him in a real and personal way," the kids' ministry explains.
LW Youth
Students in middle school and high school have their own ministry under Youth Pastor Lou Zambito. The program partners with parents and trained, screened leaders, and is built around two weekly touchpoints: a Sunday Youth Group from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and a Wednesday Bible Study from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The aim is to help students become passionate followers of Jesus, to ground them in their faith, and to send them out eager to share His name. "We want our youth to know Jesus so that they would be excited about sharing His name and making Him known to others," the youth ministry writes.
What the Church Believes
Living Word's statement of faith centers on the classic evangelical doctrines: one God the Father, the person and work of Jesus Christ (virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and personal return), and the person and work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer and distributes the biblical gifts of the Spirit in the present ministry of the church.
The Bible is held to be the inspired, infallible Word of God, and the church teaches from the King James Version as the basis for its doctrine. Two ordinances are observed: believer's baptism by full immersion and the Lord's Supper. Marriage is also named as an ordinance validated by Christ.
On last things, Living Word teaches a personal, visible Second Coming of Christ, a resurrection of the body, a final judgment, a literal heaven and a literal hell, and a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church.
The church describes itself as a Christ-centered community in which the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and the lordship of Christ are essential to everything it does. Members are called to gather weekly for worship and to express love for God by caring for others.
The Pastoral Team
The pastoral team is small and built around preaching, families, and the next generation. Frank Bolella serves as Lead Pastor. Olive Hintze directs LW Kids, and Lou Zambito oversees LW Youth. Together they oversee worship on two mornings a week, three Sunday school tracks, and two weekly youth gatherings, supported by a wide circle of screened volunteers.
Joining, Watching, and Giving
Visitors who want to plan a first visit can start online with a short welcome video from Pastor Bolella, along with answers to common questions about services, what to wear, what is offered for kids, and where to park. A sermon archive and livestream live on the church's YouTube channel, and the events calendar lists what is coming up at the Dumont campus. From the multi-ethnic welcome at the door to the multi-generational energy of Sunday school, Living Word is built to make space for every person who walks through it.