A Reliant missionary employee has some choices regarding his or her employment status and hiring date while beginning the initial support-raising process (Initial MTD). The following information is to help you understand your options, but you do not need to make any decisions before arriving at training. We will talk through your options more at training as well.

Typical scenario (Full-time, 40 hours/week)

Most of our U.S.-based missionaries employees start out raising support as full-time employees at 40 hours per week with a hiring date of the first day of their training. Under this option, the missionaryemployee:

• Begins receiving a paycheck (even if not a full one) right away, dependent upon the amount of money raised so far
• Begins receiving benefits coverage through Reliant right away
• Is able to receive backpay in the future for the hours worked during support raising. For a more detailed explanation, please see Backpay.

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Associate Staff (Volunteer) option

Missionaries Employees can choose to start the initial fundraising season as an Associate Staff. Being an Associate means they are an official volunteer with Reliant while they begin support raising. Under this option, the missionaryemployee:

• Can build up a balance of funds in the MTD account the missionary employee is responsible for before pulling money out for a paycheck. This is a common choice for international missionaries employees who need funds to accrue to cover their moving expenses and one-time needs.
• Is not benefits eligible
• Does not yet receive a paycheck. The missionary employee chooses when in the future he or she wants to receive a hire date and start getting paid. 

Part-time options

Some missionaries employees want the benefits of being hired by Reliant right away but will not be working 40 hours per week. The following options are available for them:

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Hire date

Provisionally Accepted missionaries employees can receive a hire date once they've attended a training (if required) and completed the necessary employment paperwork.

• Hire Date depends on:
  • Completing training requirements (listed on the offer of employment)
  • Completing necessary employment paperwork (at training or remotely if not attending training)
  • No other disqualifying factors come up before the hire date. Potentially disqualifying factors include (but are not limited to):
    • The missionary employee or church feels led in a different direction
    • There is a change in the missionaryemployee's moral conduct or background check
• Hire Date can be as early as the first day of the training attended (or 10 business days after accepting the offer if not required to attend training).

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