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Mark & Joanne Landon
mjlandon@mac.com

Gospel Fellowship Association  |  Edinburg, Scotland
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November 2, 2020
​Dear friend,
Do you want to opt out of stress, fear, and anger?
Do you want to avoid all the clutter and noise of the world which robs you of God peace of heart and mind?
If you do, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” Colossians 3:16.
1. Let God’s word influence and control every thought, word, and deed!
2. Let your thoughts and words praise the name of God Almighty!
Psalm 113:2, “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.”
Don’t let the joy killers rob you of God’s peace.
Thanks for your prayers,
Mark and Joanne

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August 5, 2020
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June 2, 2020
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May 4, 2020
Greetings from Edinburgh,
Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support. These past weeks have opened up opportunities to minister, give assurance to anxious souls, and help in other ways. Each week, we go shopping for ladies that have come down with the Coronavirus,  and a single mother who walks with a severe limp from polio. These weekly shopping trips have proven to challenge my personal shopping skills, which unsurprisingly to Joanne, were poor from the beginning. To me it was a new revelation, when I have discovered that I’m not made for shopping. If it wasn’t for Joanne calmly keeping track of all the details, there would be chaos. She has a long list of, “One of this... and only two of that, low-fat here, and don’t buy that brand, and if you can’t find it at this store, you will find it at another.” 
I won’t bore you with the rest of the grocery list, but I keep telling myself, “You are learning to be patient” and “Aren’t these elderly ladies dearies?” 

God bless,
Mark and Joanne Landon

My tip for the week: Don’t go grocery shopping if you don’t have to! 
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April 6, 2020
​Dear Church Family,

Happy Easter from Edinburgh! As we enter another week of lockdown, we praise God that our risen Lord has all power in heaven and earth, we can still give forth the Gospel, and He is with us “always, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:18-20.

Your continued support and prayers are so appreciated here in Scotland. We just did a shop and drop for an elderly one in self-isolation and have included a printed Easter sermon. Others who home worship with us (via email sermons) have responded very favorably to the help these sermons have been.  Pray also for those unsaved in our area--for a continued  door of utterance for Gospel witness. Neighbors still walk by for food shops, exercise, or in dog walks—so a conversation over the way (safe distance) is still possible when we are out doing yard work or walking ourselves. One neighbor, who was interested in our home worship, recently received a sermon and SS worksheets for their child. Pray for further “contact” (by email) and the salvation of souls. Pray also for unsaved family members of those who home worship with us.

Thank you for praying with us, as we share the Gospel and seek to be His light in a dark place.

Gratefully yours,
Mark and Joanne Landon
Acts 28:31

GFA missions
Edinburgh, Scotland

March 6, 2020
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December 9, 2019
​Christmas Greetings from Edinburgh!

Thank you so much for the faithful support that came through the mission last week. Your faithfulness is much appreciated as there are ongoing expenses during this busy season. 
 
The Christmas tracts going out this month have been well received—even by Buddhists, agnostics, and those many years out of church. We are thankful for this season of opportunities to present the real message of Christmas, and covet your prayers for eternal fruit for God’s glory.  The ladies outreach last Friday was well-attended and enjoyed by all.

When Joanne was single, she  had a flatmate who had attended the church. That woman moved away and Joanne haven’t seen her in several decades, but recently a mutual friend said she was trying to return to the Lord and wanted to make contact. Please pray for her to do so, and her return to Christ.

Your intercession for the work here is needed and much appreciated.  Please pray for the continued tract distribution and the Christmas services on Dec. 22. May the Lord richly reward all your efforts and vision for missions!

Have a very blessed Christmas season!
Gratefully yours,
Mark and Joanne Landon
I John 4:14 

October 4, 2019
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October 1, 2019
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August 8, 2019
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July 12, 2019
Thank you so much for your prayers for me. They are/were much appreciated! I’m not long home from the hospital, but wanted to give you a quick update. The surgery went well, but I had a few challenging hrs, when I couldn’t keep any water of food down. A nurse quickly got an IV and some meds going—and by morning I was much better. I’m still sore and swollen, but am thankful that the operation is now history! Please pray for continued healing in the days ahead.


While at the hospital, the Lord blessed with several opportunities to share Jesus’ lovingkindness and providence through the good days as well as bad.  Long story short: One nurse sadly told me of her atheistic children, and my surgeon commented that he had “not been very good at learning some of life’s lessons.”

Special thanks for caring and praying and emailing.  May the Lord bless your kindness.

Gratefully yours,

Joanne Landon

Acts 20:24—promise the Lord gave me at the hospital.

Acts 20:24 "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

Jul 8, 2019
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June 9, 2019
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April 29, 2019
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March 5, 2019
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October 6, 2018
​Dear Church Family,


Thank you for your gift of support that arrived this week for the Gospel work here in Scotland.  It is needed and very much appreciated! 
Tomorrow (October 7th) is our Harvest Thanksgiving service at the church, so we are praying for some new faces from this outreach and some last fruit, Lord willing.. And earlier this week a single missionary arrived to do the CELTA course here in Edinburgh. So our church is thankful to have a pianist once again. Please pray for her time with us and her adjustment to a new city.
Also, we’d like to request prayer for a quick surgery date for Mark’s hernia operation. He has received 2 letters confirming he is on the national health waiting list, but still no date. Years ago someone mentioned that “waiting is hard on the flesh, but good for the soul.” So in the meantime, he must be getting lots of patience and empathy for others on those lists, as he endures continual pain and discomfort. We are praying for keyhole surgery and quick healing.
We feel blessed with several new contacts and a softening of people’s hearts. We know God is working, even when we don’t always see it. So we faithfully sow on—in a soil that need much tilling, weeding, and stone removal.
Thanks again for standing behind us with your prayers and support. May the Lord richly repay you.

Gratefully yours.
Mark and Joanne
Ps. 119:55

September 6, 2018
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July 2018
​This summer has been one of the hottest and driest we remember in our over 3 decades of service here in Scotland. It is most welcome for the locals and tourists alike, but not so pleasant for our farmers. We’ve been busy with duties--sermon and lesson preparations, church and nursing home services, tract distribution, and a continued one-on-one study. Days also fill up with yard work (church or home) or helping folks--taking a church lady’s cat to the vet with a follow-up check-up, helping an elderly neighbor to fill in government forms on a slo-o-ow computer, and answering questions from some local enquirers. We thank the Lord for each soul and another opportunity to serve them, however and whenever. Please pray for Linda to return to the Lord and church. Recently she had to cut short her holiday, when she unexpectantly lost her sister. None of her family are believers, so she gets no encouragement from them. Meeting up with contacts and having folks for meals has a been a blessing. Recently we saw a student who had moved. She said she hopes to visit us soon. Prayer Focus: 1. Salvation of lost, obedience of believers, more folks to attend church 2. Wisdom, health, strength, and provision as we serve here in Edinburgh 3. Mark’s elderly parents with on-going health challenges (living in Colorado) and an unspoken request We thank you for your prayers, support, and vision for missions. It puts the “Go in the Gospel” and helps the light of truth to shine in a needy place. Did you know that over 95% of the population here does not attend church? And of the 5% who do (of any denomination, faith group or cult,) half are over 65 years old. Please pray for truth to be known. Gratefully yours for Scotland,
​Mark and Joanne Landon

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​June 1, 2018
Dear Friend,
Joanne and I were speaking to man yesterday that mentioned on several occasions, he almost come close to the edge of believing in Christ, but had no desire to do so now. I couldn’t help but think of King Agrippa's saying unto Paul, “almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” and Jeremiah saying that God called but you would not hear. It's sad to see when a person rejects God’s salvation.

I have enclosed our latest thank you note.
Thank you for your prayers,

Mark Landon
​Dear Praying Friend,
​Praises:
1. A local man requested a Bible from Mark, which he was able to give him. Pray for this man’s soul, as well as other contacts.
2. In May we had a visit from our field representative Dr. and Mrs. Patterson along with a new missionary to England, Clay Gibbons.
3. When distributing tracts recently, we met the son of a man we had known over 30 years ago. That was a blessing, as the father had long since passed away.
4. Seeing The Flying Scotsman, as it chugged into Edinburgh’s Waverley train station. This steam train had set world records and been on tour to several continents.
Prayer Focus:
1. The church and nursing home services, tract distribution, and one-on-one Bible studies continue. Pray for the salvation of the lost and for obedience of believers.
2. For the defeat of spiritual darkness.
3. Summer visitors, and an unspoken request.
​Thank you for your continued prayers and support. They are very much needed and help to get the Gospel out. We are thankful to be His servants, and praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Gratefully yours in Christ’s service, Mark and Joanne Landon


April 2, 2018
Dear Friend,
Over a dozen years ago our son took piano lessons for 4 years from a Jewish lady. Recently she was brought back into our lives, and Joanne was able to send her a testimony of a converted Jewish doctor. Please pray for her to be open to the truth as she reads this testimony, and for future contact. She is now 75, has some health issues, and mentioned that she is afraid to wear her Star of David (necklace) out in public any more. Thank you for praying for the ladies Easter meeting. It was a cold rainy night, and although others were invited out, just the regulars came. It was still a blessed time of fellowship and devotion and several participated.
​Prayer Focus:
1. Our long severe winter made it impossible for several of our frail and elderly to attend church any longer. Please pray for some new, younger folks to attend.
2. Wisdom, health and provision as we serve here in Edinburgh.
3. Ongoing maintenance/protection/funds for our church building.
4. God’s blessing on the tract distribution, church and nursing home services.
5. Visitors coming this spring and summer: saved and unsaved.
Thank you for your prayers and support so the Gospel can go out in Edinburgh. Our summer months see a tripling of the population—from tourists around the globe. Our city gets very busy and crowded—yet there is a golden opportunity to meet those we’d never see otherwise. So please pray!
Gratefully yours in Christ, Mark and Joanne Landon
Gospel Fellowship Association 1809 Wade Hampton Blvd. Suite 110 Greenville SC 29609

March 6, 2018
​Dear Friends,
Last week Scotland and the rest of the U.K. was hit with a deep-freeze from Siberian winds and Storm Emma. The weather man dubbed it the “Beast from the East.” In a country not used to so much snow, and limited snowplow equipment, it caused considerable problems. Schools, colleges, shops, and Edinburgh airport had been closed for several days as the snow piled up. The public was advised to stay home during this weather warning. We stayed in and stayed warm but were thankful when a slight thaw enabled us to get out again. Have you ever wondered why you felt led to do something? Because of the snow conditions, deliveries were not made in some places and the shops ran out of basics like milk and bread. When we took a jug of milk to a friend, I wish you could have seen her face! She hadn’t been out in four days and was down to the last half inch. How thankful she was! In February our church purchased a new church sign. Pray for those who read it, that they’ll want to attend. Pray also for those we seek to reach for Christ and for the obedience of believers. March 30th is out ladies Easter outreach. One ladies has offered to bake scones and another is giving a reading. Please pray for those invited out and for Joanne as she speaks. We were saddened that some Sunday School children will no longer be attending, as their mothers didn’t like the message (Romans 6:23). The mothers hadn’t ever attended our church, but the grandmother was trying to have an influence in their lives. Please pray for a softening of the mothers’ hearts, and that the grandmother doesn’t get discouraged and quit coming. Pray also for some upcoming visitors, saved and unsaved, who will be here this spring and summer. Thank you for your prayers, concern, and support for the ongoing work here. It is much appreciated. Have a very blessed Easter. Revelation 1:18 says, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore.”
Gratefully yours in Christ,
​Mark and Joanne Landon
January 2018
 
Happy New Year from Edinburgh!
 
Many thanks for your Christmas greetings and prayers. They are much appreciated, and you will rejoice that the Christmas outreaches were all well attended and a blessed time. The Lord sent in some new faces and some former ones that we hadn’t seen in awhile. One lady who occasionally attended in the past when her mother lived in our area, has since returned to our church. She said, “Coming back to your church is like coming home.”  Her mother had passed away several years ago and she herself doesn’t live near our church, but recently has been making the effort to come the distance. Please pray for her to be faithful and encouraged in the Lord.
 
Two of our elderly folks, Gill and Mr. Murray, are now both facing challenging health issues, so we miss them at the services. Please pray for some new faces to join with us to fill in the gaps. Some younger folks would be a blessing too.
 
You may remember that we requested prayer for our church’s overcharged water bills. The local water board did phone and apologize and sent a refund. However, higher rates are being phased in for all small businesses and sports clubs. Of course we are neither, so we are waiting for our appeal to go through for the 2018 rates.  Edinburgh has expensive rates, so please pray for a fair price for us, as we are a small building in a poorer area.
 
These January days find us busy with lesson preparation, giving Bible studies and sermons, tract distribution, visits, and shoveling snow.  Pray for God’s blessing on our endeavors, for unsaved friends and neighbors, and continued health and provision to accomplish all God wants us to.
 
Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and vision for the furtherance of the Gospel.
Gratefully yours,
Mark and Joanne Landon
  
Serving with:
Gospel Fellowship Association
1809 Wade Hampton Blvd. Suite 110
Greenville, South Carolina 29609
 

​Dear Church Family,

Thank you so much for your faithful support received this week through the mission board. We want you to know how much it is appreciated as we continue to sow the Gospel seed here in Edinburgh.

Joanne visited with Pauline yesterday—the Catholic lady. She said she’s coming to the ladies Christmas outreach. Please pray for her. She listens to what the Bible says, but still goes to mass. Please pray as the Gospel goes forth at this outreach, and for God to work in hearts as only He can. Pray for the nursing home Christmas service too, as we give out the goody bags and Gospel tracts. Visited Mr. Murray today. He is quite frail and elderly and wasn’t able to come to church last week.

Mark received his yearly report of blood work this week—“no significant change, no further action required.” That’s a blessing! (now 8 years in remission from the leukemia).

We wish you all a very blessed Christmas and holiday season. Our cold weather and short days are here—quite seasonal!
Thanks again for your vision for missions, and your prayers and support. God bless you!

Love across the miles,
Mark and Joanne Landon
Edinburgh, Scotland

Psalm 121:5-7

October 12, 2017
Dear Friends,


Joanne and I wanted to thank you for your faithful prayers and support. We praise the Lord for new opportunities to witness and share our faith with others. It always amazes me to see the depth of disbelief in peoples hearts but we take encouragement that the Bible says, “God’s Word will not return void.”
Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

God bless,

Mark and Joanne Landon

Dear Friend, Recently as we took a riverside walk, we saw the beautiful autumn trees in full color. This reminded us of Psalm 1 where David encouraged believers to take godly counsel and to delight in God’s Word. This would result in their blessing and fruitfulness “as a tree planted by the rivers of water.” Prayer Focus: 1. On our walks, we never know who we will meet or what their need is, but we try to get in a Gospel witness or at least offer them a tract as we say good-bye. We have meet folks from near and far (even other countries), with some very varied beliefs and personal needs. Pray for them to think about their souls and God’s gift of salvation. 2. Our local water board has increased our church water bill twice in the last year. We have explained that we are only in the buildings for services, as we use our home as an office, but they still have not lowered the rate. We are still waiting for them to get back with us. Please pray that this might get sorted out soon, as we believe we are being overcharged. 3. For the upcoming seasonal planning and outreaches. If any one would like to send some Christmas or New Year’s Gospel tracts, we would put them out over the holidays. The packaging would need to be labeled: Not for Resale, A Gift. 4. Health, strength, wisdom, and provision as we serve and give forth the good news of salvation. Few believe God’s Word to be true or relevant today. We need God’s power to open blind eyes. Thank you for your prayers and support for the mission work here in Edinburgh. We appreciate it very much.
​Gratefully yours in Christ, Mark and Joanne Landon





Tuesday April 4, 2017
​Dear friend,


This morning we have been putting our gospel tracts and this afternoon we’ve been working on the church grounds. We put down some lawn seed and raked out two five gallons bags of moss. It had overtaken the grass during the time we were back in the States on furlough.

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Mark and Joanne Landon


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Dear Friend,

It’s what they call the "Mud Season" up here in northwest Michigan. The snow is starting to melt. Sure does look like the early signs of Spring.
Thank you for your prayers and support,

Mark and  Joanne


Cell: 313 510 7432   Email: mjlandon@mac.com
Dear Praying Friend,
I came across this illustration and I thought it had a good application for the coming New Year 2016.
Let me share it with you: An English professor wrote the words, "A woman without her man is nothing" on the blackboard and then directed the students to punctuate it correctly.
   The men wrote: "A woman, without her man, is nothing."
   The women wrote: "A woman: Without her, man is nothing."
You must confess this illustration has its humorous side, but for our application, let us ask ourselves how is our grammar?  Does it help to effectively communicate our message or does it hinder what we are trying to say by a lack of clarity in meaning and intent? As any English teacher will tell you, grammatical rules do matter, and you can’t just decide to throw in a comma here and a run on sentence there and think that it won’t affect your message. It will!
 
How Will We Punctuate Our Lives In The Coming New Year?
If our grammar is important in laying the groundwork for effective communication, then as God’s people how much more do our lives communicate a message? This coming New Year, let us clearly and effectively communicate the message of the Gospel of Christ. Let our thoughts, words, and deeds show Christlikeness and have a spirit of meekness about them. Let us pray for God’s help that our Christian testimonies will not show any lack of clarity of meaning and intent when we are seeking to reveal Christ to a dying world.
 
Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
 
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
 
As we continue on furlough, we covet your prayers for:
1. Safety and wisdom as we travel and speak.
2. Spiritual growth of Gladys
3. Needed 10% support raised
4. Car fund
 
God bless you for your part in foreign missions.  It is greatly appreciated.  May the Lord richly repay you, as only He can.
Gratefully in Christ,
Mark and Joanne Landon

As Joanne and I were driving down Hwy 61, we both noticed in the distance, a bald eagle flying effortlessly right down the middle of the road towards us.  What a magnificent sight to see this iconic bird with its wings stretched outright, gliding past us.
 It instantly reminded me of:
 Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Let us “mount up with wings as eagles” and take our burdens to the Lord
.


Dear Friend,
Last night when I was watching the news, I heard the news Anchorman say to the Weather Man, “Please give us some hope . . . “
This longing for some sunny weather reminded me of what Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven. She is liable to be beaten upon by all the winds that blow, to be drenched with rain, to be buried in cold sea fogs out of the east, and powdered with the snow as it comes flying southward from the Highland hills. The weather is raw and boisterous in winter, shifty and ungenial in summer, and a downright meteorological purgatory in the spring.”
We may have our fair share of dreich weather (miserable, cold, gloomy), but I’m thankful as a believer in Christ we can maintain our hope in Christ.
Psalm 33:18-19 "Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine."
Despite our circumstances, let’s look to the Lord with faith and confidence!
Psalm 33:21-22  “For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.”

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West Rome Baptist Church  |  11984 Rome Road Manitou Beach, MI 49253  |  517-547-6222  |  westrome@westrome.com