Initial and Released Employees (MTD)

Initial Status

Reliant employees that are deputized fundraisers on behalf of Reliant begin their employment with the status "initial" for purposes of MTD (Ministry Team Development - see Chapter 6). The job description for staff in the initial phase requires all paid hours to be dedicated to MTD. Employees in the initial phase will not be paid for ministry responsibilities. The employee may participate in functions for their own encouragement and refreshment on their own time.

It is Reliant's expectation that an employee in the initial phase is not responsible for any ministry duties and will not be allowed to participate in any mission trips during the first 6 months of initial MTD. Employees in the initial phase may request an exception to participate in a mission trip after the first 6 months. Exceptions will be granted on a case by case basis and will be based on MTD performance.

Sustaining Status

Once an employee has reached their required MTD Goal (see section 6.2.g), he or she is "Released to Assignment". A new job description should be submitted to Missionary Resources. In this status, an employee begins to be paid for ministry hours worked. It is Reliant's expectation that employees continue to maintain a healthy balance in the account for which they are responsible. (Typically 5 - 10% of a missionaries job will be devoted to Sustaining MTD.)  If this level drops to an unhealthy level for an extended period of time, the employee may be returned to "Initial MTD" status (see section 6.2.n).

Active Status 

In very exceptional cases an MTD Coach, along with Missionary Resources leadership and the ministry supervisor may allow a missionary to be active in ministry while still developing their Initial Ministry Team.  This generally happens no sooner than one year after beginning MTD.   It needs to be evident to ministry leadership that the missionary's support levels will be helped by active involvement.  There is always an end-date and return to full-time MTD until the missionary reaches 100% of their MTD goal. 

Accruing Status

 After being released to assignment, a missionary may choose to have a season devoted to MTD when they are not drawing salary but building up the account for which they are responsible.  Example: missionaries who transition to international assignments.