Long Term Support

It's the beginning of September and we're starting things off well.

The Summer break for the universities in Japan is ending soon, so our campus ministry is going to be starting up again. Please pray for the students we meet, that we can encourage them to learn more about the Gospel and to come to faith in Jesus.

In the meantime, I've been working with the church plant to help grow it. We are going through the basics of Christianity for those in our church who are young in their faith or exploring Christianity. Please pray that we continue to reach out to more Japanese people and share the gospel message with many more for the first time.

I've been looking for new places to meet people and make connections. To find a place to meet Japanese people with similar interests and able to speak English. Please pray that God shows me a new field to reach out to and for me to start making new connections.

I'm also figuring out long term plans. One of the limiting factors on my stay, at least for the next two years, is staying funded. I'd like to keep going through October and beyond, but I need to raise support for the long term. One of my goals is to partner with more churches. The average salary for an English teacher in Osaka, Japan is between (equivalently) $2,200 – $3,000 a month. By partnering with several churches, $2,500 a month can be spread around so that each church only has to provide a few hundred in support each month. So I am asking my supporters for help. Please, send me the contact information for your church's mission coordinator so I can contact them, or let them know and they can contact me at Carl.E.Erbe@gmail.com . I am still in the evaluation period, but I am trying to work ahead so that there is not a scramble to get funding out once the evaluation period is complete.

To state my position clearly, I am currently an independent missionary with a religious activities visa valid through July 2021. I am working with Charles Seelen, an IMB (International Mission Board) Missionary and Osaka Team Leader in Japan. I am not with the IMB in an official capacity but I am working in submission to Charles Seelen and the Osaka Team's leadership and strategy. We are exploring the option for me to become a Team Associate (someone who raises their own support) to work with the IMB Team in an official standing.

In the meantime, I am still raising support to keep working in Osaka through October. I will need about $2,000 by the last week of September to keep me a float through October. I will probably also have some transitional expenses, either in establishing myself in Osaka for the long term or returning to the states if needed. I am grateful for all the support I've been given so far. I don't like having to keep asking for more money but I rely on the support that you give to keep me going in Japan.

Thank you and God bless,

Carl

You can send your support to East Tucson Baptist Church, indicating it is for “Carl's Japan Missions Fund”. This is a tax deductible option.

Make checks out to:

East Tucson Baptist Church

9100 E Speedway Blvd

Tucson, AZ 85710

Phone: (520) 917-4233

Or send a check to my family to deposit for me:

Lynn Erbe

7326 E. Calle Lugo

Tucson, AZ 85710

Phone: (520) 298-6319

You may also send money directly through PayPal

PayPal.me/CarlErbe

My GoFundMe page for this trip:

https://www.gofundme.com/carls-second-osaka-missions-trip