Anthony Powell, MA ’13, DMin ’25, serves as lead and founding pastor at Redeemed Life Church in Azusa, California, which was launched on January 31, 2016. Powell originally graduated from APU in 2013 with a Master’s in Pastoral Studies and later returned to complete a Doctor of Ministry. Through mentorship, academic formation, and spiritual growth, Powell began to see how his gifts could be used to share the Gospel and serve others through ministry.
An Early Passion for the Entertainment Industry
From a young age, Powell was drawn to the entertainment industry. “I knew that I was called to make people laugh,” said Powell. “The first distinct memory that I have is gathering all the neighborhood kids and putting on shows for them.” Powell was a military kid, so he did not have the opportunity to participate in structured theater until late middle school and early high school. “I landed my first commercial at age 10,” said Powell. “By the time I was in high school, I was involved in plays, dance, and choir.”
Finding Faith and a New Calling
After high school, Powell earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Media Performance at Chapman University. He had moved to Los Angeles and decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He had no intention of entering ministry until he encountered God. “I was dating my wife, Bonnie, at the time and was planning to ask her to marry me,” said Powell. “ I also knew that if I brought her home to my mom, one of the first questions she would ask is, ‘What church do you two go to?’ I wanted to make sure our relationship and future together were rooted in God.” After searching for a church, they found Oasis, a thriving church reaching those in the creative arts and entertainment industry. “It had a dance ministry,” said Powell. “I remember walking in and seeing people spinning on their heads for Jesus. I saw my passions being used towards God in a way that I didn’t know was possible.” Powell and his then fiancée began regularly attending Oasis Church. Through this, Powell realized that in his pursuit of the arts, his life had slowly unraveled.
As Powell attended Oasis, God began working in him by convicting him of his involvement in the entertainment industry. Powell knew that if he wanted to fully commit to God, he could no longer involve himself in portraying ungodly behavior. “I called my agent and said, ‘I will no longer participate in on-set or tour environments that place me in situations involving activities that do not glorify God,’” said Powell.
I felt God ask whether I would surrender not just my life, but also my dreams, to the plans He had for me.
Choosing APU: Surrendering Dreams to Ministry
At the same time, Powell applied for three master’s programs. He applied to APU for a degree in pastoral studies and two dance programs elsewhere. He decided he would attend the program that accepted him and left it in God’s hands. “I had no background in biblical studies or ministry, yet I got accepted to APU,” said Powell. “To my shock, I was not accepted into the other two programs, despite being more qualified.”
Planting Redeemed Life Church in Azusa
After having been at Oasis Church for quite some time, Powell’s pastors knew that God was calling him to plant a church. Powell was invited to a church-planting conference alongside his pastor, who supported him emotionally and financially to plant Redeemed Life Church (RLC) in the same city as his university, Azusa. This step marked the beginning of a ministry shaped by a clear vision for restoration and new life.
This is why a central focus of RLC is its recovery ministry, rooted in Isaiah 1:18 and the promise of complete restoration. “I wanted to plant a church where people can see that transformation is possible,” Powell said. “No matter where you come from, God can redeem you. That’s why we named it Redeemed Life Church.” More recently, Powell has felt led to expand this vision through the arts. Recognizing an opportunity to expand access to performing arts in Azusa, he has partnered with APU to offer free performing arts classes to the community, with the long-term goal of opening a performing arts center.
Powell’s journey reflects a life steadily surrendered to God’s leading, where calling has taken priority over personal ambition. What began as a passion for performance has been redirected into a meaningful platform for ministry, equipping him to reach others with authenticity and purpose. Through his ministry at RLC, Powell not only shares the message of redemption but also creates spaces where people can experience it firsthand, both through recovery ministry and the arts. His story is a reminder that when we entrust our plans to God, He is faithful to reshape them into something more purposeful than we could have imagined.