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Procedure Name:US to International Transfers
Scope:US Staff
Revision Date:May 6, 2022
Last Review Date:June 8, 2023

At Reliant we love to see our missionaries employees called into greater opportunities. On a regular basis our missionaries employees sense God is calling them from the U.S. to an international ministry. This page is intended to help you understand the steps along the way and the timeline needed.

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The process for a current U.S. missionary employee with Reliant to transfer to an International role includes the following main stages:

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titleEstablish the Ministry Partnership (if needed)


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All missionary employee roles at Reliant result from a partnership between Reliant and the ministry where our missionaries employees serve. Usually, a move overseas indicates a need for a new partnership. Even if the ministry is being managed by a large church, there are usually supervisors for the particular location who will want to understand how we partner together. 
The process for establishing a partnership with Reliant includes the following:
  • Partnership Call is completed with Reliant's International Team and the new supervisors. It takes 30-45 minutes.
  • Reliant MOU signed by new partner ministry
  • New supervisor is oriented to need for a budget & international support goal
  • MTD coach identified, if needed
Info

For an international missionaryemployee, the partner church/ministry is most often the receiving church (located internationally). However, there are scenarios where Reliant partners with the sending church (located in the U.S.). It is important to determine whether the receiving or sending church is the appropriate partner for Reliant and continue the rest of the process with leadership from that church/ministry involved.



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titleRefresh Assessment Process (8-10 weeks)


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When someone is already a missionary an employee with us, we know they have been effectively assessed for their current ministry. An international move triggers new levels of stress and the need for greater preparation. Also, at Reliant we make sure that a new ministry's supervisor has had the opportunity to interview our missionaries employees for the roles they will carry. This is valuable to each party in the discernment process. 

Therefore, an abbreviated "refresh" assessment process will be completed at apply.reliant.org. Missionaries Employees can feel free to start a new application now and reach out to our Assessment Coordinator at apply@reliant.org to abbreviate the application. A Refresh application will include: 


Documentation (application)


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  • International testing in partnership with International Personnel Consultants & Mission Training International
  • References from spouse and current supervisor
  • Job Description/Ministry Skills - for new ministry
  • Calling - for new ministry
  • Emotional and Moral Questionnaire
  • MTD readiness (financial updates)


Supervisor Interview


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After submitting an application, an interview will be held with the anticipated future supervisor for the international role.


Reliant Interview


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The missionary employee will also talk with a Reliant interviewer, which will include discussing some of the information reported from the international testing packet.


Decision


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The anticipated future supervisor and Reliant will make a decision in regards to the transfer. If the transfer application is approved, the missionary employee will be notified of the new ministry offer.

Info
The standard time for this process, once a transfer application is submitted, is 8-10 weeks.



New Ministry Offer


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A new ministry offer is an affirmation that the missionary employee is well-suited for the new role and that Reliant and the new ministry leadership believe God's blessing is on the transition.

At this point, the missionary employee will be released to work out their plans for release and transition from their current ministry. In most cases, the missionary employee is carrying responsibilities that need to be transitioned to other people, and we expect our missionaries employees to leave well by making the space for a healthy transition.

In best-case scenarios, Reliant hopes that the current ministry views themselves as "senders." One aspect of that is that the current ministry continues to supervise the transitioning missionary employee during their fundraising and international preparation season. Not every ministry situation can allow for that. If the current ministry is not able or willing to provide oversight, Reliant will look to the receiving ministry to provide this oversight. 


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titleInternational Orientation & Support Goal Development

International Orientation 


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MultiExcerptNameIntl Orientation

Once a new ministry offer has been extended for the transfer to an International role, the missionary employee will need to connect with the International Department of the Missionary Resources team for an international orientation. During this orientation, we will explain the aspects of employment that are unique to international missionariesemployees, discuss your anticipated timeline and review the following:

    1. International Support Goal Worksheet
    2. International Checklist
    3. Cross-Cultural Training plans and requirements 


International Support Goal and International Allowance (formerly Bonuses)


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MultiExcerptNameIntl Support Goal & Bonuses

International Missionary employee salaries are set on a needs-based system. This is very different from the U.S. structure, which uses market-based salaries. The supervisor of the missionary employee is highly involved in the process by providing budget and expectations regarding the local standard of living. 

 A new needs-based support goal will be calculated using the International Support Goal Worksheet (SGW). This support goal will be added to StaffNet to help track progress towards 100% of the fundraising goal but will not be used for payroll initially.


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titleMTD - Active Fundraising for the New Ministry (typically 3-6 months)

Missionaries Employees will be required to raise:

      • 100% of monthly recurring gifts

      • 100% of one-time gifts OR a 3-month buffer of expenses in MTD account (whichever is greater)

The amount of time needed for this fundraising varies greatly depending on things like the amount of funding currently developed and the amount of time the missionary employee can give to the process. 

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titleCross-Cultural Training

Reliant Missionaries employees who are serving internationally for more than 9 months are required to have cross-cultural training. Usually Reliant Missionaries employees utilize COMPASS training with MTI. Reliant is continuing to develop new partnerships for the cross-cultural training needs of our missionariesemployees. Reliant's Missionary Resources leadership needs to approve any alternate cross-cultural training. The request for acceptance of alternate training needs to be initiated by the leadership of the supervising ministry.

Typically, missionaries employees should aim to register for their approved cross-cultural training once they pass 50% of their monthly international support goal.

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titleRelease to Assignment & Roundtable Call

International Release to Assignment 


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Since this transfer involves a new ministry assignment and new international support goal, a new release to your international assignment will be required. A few key things happen after the Release to Assignment has been approved:

  • Plane tickets may be purchased
  • Salary will change to the international needs-based salary calculated in the SGW
  • Insurance will change to international coverage


Roundtable Call


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The Roundtable Call is a simple, yet important time when Reliant, the missionary employee, and the new supervisor meet one last time before the missionaryemployee's departure. We review plans for the arrival, the first few months of ministry, first furlough and safety issues together. We also formally commit the missionary employee to their new role at this juncture. The call is usually scheduled by the missionary employee and held 1-2 weeks before departure. It takes 30-45 minutes. 


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The transfer process includes an assessment and a Hiring Decision between Reliant and the leadership of the international ministry. That decision may result in identifying areas in which the missionary employee needs to develop before being invited to this new role. The missionary employee is only free to announce a change and officially raise funds for the new ministry after the hiring decision has resulted in a New Ministry Offer. For these reasons, we encourage current missionaries employees to communicate wisely to friends, family and ministry partners. Helpful language includes comments like: "I believe God is calling me, and I've started a discernment process with my leadership"; "I hope to be released to an international assignment"; "Our hope and dream is to minister internationally, and we are preparing ourselves for that"; and "We hope you will continue supporting us if we are released to our new ministry." 

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At 50% - Plan Training Logistics

    • Register for Cross-Cultural Training — usually Reliant Missionaries employees utilize COMPASS training with MTI. Make sure these plans have been approved by Reliant and your current supervisor first.

    • The missionary employee registers for MTI when they reach 50% of their goal, with the aim of attending training when they have 80-95% of their goal.

    • The cost of MTI is covered by funds that are raised by the missionaryemployee.


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Between 50-80% - Get Oriented with Reliant's Financial Processes

    • Contact international@reliant.org to register for International Financial Orientation where we discuss international banking plans. and international reimbursements.

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    • Request Release to Assignment 
    • Plane tickets may not be purchased prior to the missionary employee being Released to Assignment. 
    • Schedule Roundtable Call between Reliant and the Local Supervision

    • Finish all International Checklist requirements and submit remaining paperwork to international@reliant.org

      Note

      Be aware, a minimum of 10 business days is required between Release to Assignment and departure for the international assignment.


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MultiExcerptNametable of differences

As U.S. missionaries employees with Reliant consider transitioning to an International role, there are various aspects of employment with Reliant that are similar and others that are different from employment in a U.S. role.


USInternational
SalaryMarket-basedNeeds-based
Support Goal (and tool used)
  • Offered market-based salary is used to determine support goal
  • Support Goal Calculator tool used to submit

Insurance

(when benefits eligible)

BonusesMinistry Expense Bonus planned into support goalInternational Bonuses requested as applicable, instead of a monthly ministry expense bonus
TaxesReliant witholds withholds state tax based on where you are residing and working.Reliant does not withhold state tax.


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