Dr. Powell was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. He attended the University of Western Ontario where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and later a Certificate of Honors Standing in English. He earned a Master of Divinity from London Baptist Seminary and a Master of Information and Library Science from the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Powell graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership from Tennessee Temple University. Dr. Powell has taught on campuses in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean. He joined the faculty of the Center for Leadership Studies at Tennessee Temple University in 2011 and was the Dean of the John Wesley School of Leadership at Piedmont International University until 2020. Dr. Powell and his wife Esther have one daughter. He has served as chairman of the board of A.B.W.E Canada