JonathanBowles.com

Got lots of exciting news, so I’ll get right to it.

.::XL SERVES::.
Last week 30 of our XL’ers gave up their Spring Break to serve the city. They put in over 900 volunteer man-hours all over Round Rock and Georgetown in just 4 days. They really led the charge as this weekend begins Celebration Serves, where our whole church will join together to be a blessing to our city. Its so good to see outreach becoming such a huge part of the youth culture here at XL. Be sure to check out CelebrationServes.com to see how you can get involved.

.::ANOTHER XL SERVICE::.
On Sunday, April 11th, the 6pm service at Celebration Church will officially become the XL YOUNG ADULT SERVICE. Although we have a great ministry and service going at the University of Texas for young adults, we felt the need to create an atmosphere for young adults to gather weekly at our main campus in Georgetown. Deep worship, powerful teaching, and plenty of opportunities for building relationship, geared to all those ages 18-29. I truly believe that this will be one of our largest weekly services very quickly. Be sure to tell all your friends and any young adults that you may know. We’ll see you there!

.::XL FEST::.
This past Wednesday, we announced the first ever XL FEST. June 24-26 will be an event to remember for all our High School and College age youth. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details. Seriously, you have no idea the WYLDNESS that will take place on The Hill in Georgetown this summer.

I’d also like to thank everyone that has been praying with us for Karey Cannon and his family. They were all with us in the 12pm service this past Sunday and testified of the amazing work that God has done in Karey’s life and in their family. Even better news, Karey will be back with us at the Celebration School of Ministry on Monday!

If you have some time, take a look at some of these great ministries.  Can’t ever have too much good preachin!

FOUNTAIN YOUTH CHURCH (Pastor Daniel Fernandez)

SEVEN LV (Pastor Jabin Chavez — Buy their new album This Is Love & register for the Dedicated Conf asap!)

ALL ACCESS 2010 (Amazing conference put on by the Assc of Related Churches in April.  We’ll be there, you should be too.)

Be blessed yall.

JB

I apologize for the lack of updates. Things here in ATX have been absolutely crazy recently.  I don’t really have any great revelation to share with you right now, but I will catch you up to speed on all that has been going on here.  Time flies when you live in the Kingdom.

.::HELP HAS COME!::.

For the last ten months, Kirby and I have been running the show here at XL and CSM by ourselves (along with the help of our supernatural assistant, Tiffany Blount, who administrates 6 different ministries single handedly!). We have been in need of help since the day we started and this past Monday, our prayers were answered.  Jared Montgomery from Kansas City has joined the XL/CSM team here in Austin and we are so excited about what he brings to the table.  I’ve know Jared for 8 years and have been so blessed to see him grow into an amazing youth minister.  Check out his blog at http://www.jaredmontgomery.org, follow him on Twitter, friend him on facebook, make him cookies.

.::PRAY FOR KAREY::.

A week ago one of our interns, Karey Cannon, was involved in a terrible car accident.  His car was completely demolished and many have said that he should have been instantly killed.  He suffered some brain injury, lacerations, bruising, etc. He is still in the hospital and making an accelerated recovery.  Doctors have been blown away by how quickly he is bouncing back from this life-threatening accident.  Join with us as we continue to pray for this young minister.  We need complete recovery and miraculous healing! He has a mighty call on his life and a wonderful future ahead.

.::WHOSOEVERS::.

We had 2 power-packed nights of gospel bombin’ with the Whosoevers this week.  On Wednesday night there were nearly 900 young people in the building at Georgetown and 100 more watching online.  Sonny Sandoval (POD), Brian “HEAD” Welch (Formerly of Korn), Annie Lobert, Joshua Clay, and Ryan Ries all shared their stories of how God had transformed their lives from darkness (like DEEP darkness) to light. Hundreds of young people committed to live their lives for Jesus and become WHOSOEVERS (John 3:16). The following night we had over 200 college students come together in the UT Union to hear the Gospel as well.  Both nights were powerful and the stories of lives that God transformed have begun to pour in. Please check out the Whosoevers website (http://www.thewhosoevers.com) for pics of the events and news on all that they are doing to reach the youth of this nation. Love our new friends, check em out: Annie Lobert, Brian Welch, Joshua Clay, Ryan Ries

There’s many other things that I’d love to tell you about.  Call me sometime, we’ll talk.

As I write this, I’m sitting in a session at our second XL Live event. About 60 young people getting blasted by the presence of God.  My boy Jared is bringing the Word to High School boys on the Sword of the Spirit. Life is good.

One last thing before I go, I’d like to introduce something here on JonathanBowles.com… I’m bringing back the HOT/NOT SO HOT List. Just a little glimpse into what’s hot and what’s not so hot in my world right now.

.::HOT::. — My wife, owning a house, The Arrows (In the Words of Satan), the new Johnny Cash CD, SXSW planning, upcoming birthdays, Jared Montgomery, redbox, our 2009 tax return, warmer weather, highlighting in my Bible, Joseph Prince (Unmerited Favor), new friends, old friends, the Whosoevers, Andre the Giant, new tshirt ideas, and WYLD.

.::NOT SO HOT::. — the crack in my windshield, awkward phase of growing your hair out, owning a house when things break or need to be mowed, haters, trying to start working out again…. honestly, God’s too good for this part of the list to ever be that long.

JB