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General Policy: Furlough is generally required for international employees. There are three main purposes for it:

1. Strengthening ministry financial support with individuals and churches, by visiting and casting vision to ministry partners.
2. Promoting Reliant's international ministries needs.
3. Physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation and time with family.

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Furlough is generally considered an every other year event. As a rule of thumb, the average length of furlough is three months. On a typical three-month home service leave, 8-10 weeks will normally be spent strengthening ministry support with individuals and churches and promoting the international ministry (MTD and recruiting). The remaining month may be divided among travel and vacation time for personal recuperation or spiritual preparation for the missionary and his/her family. Travel to and from the field is included in the furlough. The duration and frequency of furlough may be adjusted in coordination with the missionary's supervisor. 

While there is room to adjust duration and frequency

PTO During Furlough

During furlough years, international missionaries are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of PTO (four calendar weeks), even if their tenure with Reliant would normally allow for only 15 days. These extra days are intended to support travel and adjustment needs during furlough. Common practice of most missionaries to use 2-4 weeks of that PTO allowance during the 3 month furlough period. If the missionary would like to use their furlough PTO at another point in the year, they may coordinate with their local supervisor, and shorten their home stay in correlation to that PTO.  PTO days may be spent at the location of the missionary's choice. In the event an international employee does not take home service leave, he or she should follow the policy in PTO.

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