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We love seeing staff who have been faithful in US ministry or a church residency program be called to International opportunities!

Because of the intensity of cross-cultural ministry overseas, current employees who are transferring from a US role will need to complete a few additional application and training requirements as part of their transfer to international ministry. If you are considering this type of transfer, please initiate conversations at least 6 months before your desired launch. 

Steps in the Transfer Process

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Application and Development Phase (1-2 months)

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titleNew Partnership

The International Team will connect with the person that will be your new supervisor in your international ministry. If this partnership is new to Reliant, they will need to sign the Reliant MOU

At Reliant we love to see our employees called into greater opportunities. On a regular basis our 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. 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 employee needs to develop before being invited to this new role. The 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 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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Steps in the Transfer Process

The process for a current U.S. 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 employee roles at Reliant result from a partnership between Reliant and the ministry where our 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.
  • Reliant MOU signed by new partner ministry
  • New supervisor is oriented to need for a budget & international support goal
  • MTD coach identified, if needed
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For an international employee, 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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Refresh Assessment Process (8-10 weeks)
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When someone is already 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 employees for the roles they will carry. This is valuable to each party in the discernment process. 

Application

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  • International Testing in partnership with International Missionary Personnel Consultants (IMPC)
  • Ministry/Health Assessment (completed through Breezy, our application Hub)
  • References from spouse and current supervisor

Interview Process

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A potential international candidate will go through up to 3 interviews.

  1. IMPC Interview - The candidate will have the opportunity to debrief their International testing results with a licensed counselor, who will provide a summary report to the candidate, Reliant, and the new local supervisor.
  2. Local Supervisor - The person who will be the new supervisor of the worker in the international location will have the opportunity to hold an interview after receiving the Ministry/Health Assessment and IMPC report.
  3. Reliant - The candidate will be interviewed when needed by a member of the International team or a trained Reliant Assessor.

Decision

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The local supervisor and Reliant will make a decision in regards to the transfer. 

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The standard time for this process, once a transfer is initiated, is 4-6 weeks.

New Ministry Offer

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A new ministry offer is an affirmation that the 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 employee will be released to work out their plans for release and transition from their current ministry. In most cases, the employee is carrying responsibilities that need to be transitioned to other people, and we expect our 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 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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Once an employee has been approved for the international team, they will need to be oriented to many of the unique distinctives of the international program. Usually they will attend an International DNA held directly after virtual trainings. In cases when this is not possible, they will need to schedule a call with the International Liaison. During an orientation, we will cover topics such as:

    1. International Support Goals
    2. Pre-Launch International Checklist
    3. Administrative functions
    4. International Health Insurance
    5. International Member Care
    6. Crisis Management
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titleSupport Goals and MTD

Typically, US-based employees will need to raise additional funds for their international assignment, both monthly and one-time expenses. Once International Transfers have determined thier new support goal, they 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

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 employee can give to the process. 

Once you reach your goal, you will be approved to buy plane tickets and leave!

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titleCross-Cultural Training

Reliant employees who are serving internationally for more than 9 months are required to have cross-cultural training. Usually Reliant employees utilize  EQUIP training through CIT and COMPASS training with MTI. Reliant's International Program Team 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.

You should plan to attend 1-2 months prior to launch.

Getting Started

When you wish to move internationally, it helps if you reach out to Reliant 6-12 months prior to your desired deployment. Answering the following questions will help us serve you and begin the transfer process. 

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  • When do you plan to start MTD for your international role, and how much time do you plan to devote to MTD?
  • When do you plan to transition away from current job responsibilities?
  • Do you need to change your employment status while you raise additional support (you have the opportunity to change to Associate or a Part-Time status in order to accrue funds more quickly)? If so, when?
  • When do you hope to attend cross-cultural training?
  • When do you hope to complete your fundraising? (Fundraising must be completed in order to be released to your new assignment.)

  • When do you hope to move to your international ministry location?

Differences between U.S. and International Employment with Reliant

Reliant does not typically withhold state tax, unless requested by the worker. We ask all international workers to educate themselves on local tax guidelines for their state of permanent residence and to notify Reliant if they desire for state taxes to continue to be withheld
Reliant Application

A 2-part application including a ministry readiness assessment, and a moral conduct/emotional health questionnaire. This is completed in Breezy.

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titleInternational Missionary Personnel Consultant (IMPC) Testing

Applicants complete a set of online assessments that is reviewed by a clinical psychologist. Reliant and the applicant are provided with an initial summary, which the applicant will debrief in an interview with one of IMPC licensed counseling professionals. A final report is provided to Reliant with a final recommendation for placement and development opportunities.

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titlePersonal Development Plan

Based on the application and IMPC testing, in conjunction with the applicant's local ministry leadership, Reliant will provide a personal development plan to work on prior to launch. In some cases, certain steps will be mandatory to officially being released to raise support for an international role. This can often be integrated into your current stateside ministry role.


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Ministry Team Development (3-4 months)

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titleSupport Goal

We will work with you to set a Support Goal based on your international location. Depending on where you were currently serving, and where you are going, this could be significantly higher and you may need to enter a season of more active raising. See International Support Goals for an understanding of how we calculate monthly and one-time needs.

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titleReliant Training

If you need to raise significant amount of new support, you may opt to attend Reliant's MTD training as a refresh and to get practice reps in giving your presentation for your new ministry. This is optional.

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titleCoaching

All of Reliant's coaching services are available to you during this time. You can meet with your existing MTD coach, or if they are no longer available, we can assign you a new MTD coach that is used to working with International Staff. 

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titleRelease to Assignment

To be released to your new assignment, you must meet 100% of your recurring monthly goal and have an account balance that is 3x your monthly goal. Because you are already employed and receiving a paycheck, you may need to ask for additional one-time gifts to build your account balance before launching. 


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Field Preparation (1-2 months)

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titleInternational Orientation

The International Team hosts a quarterly 3-hour orientation which covers many on-field logistics, such as international finances, member care, and crisis management. We will also enroll you in the "Life as an International Worker" LEARN Course. You will find that there are difference nuances to your employment that are important to know, even if you have been a Reliant employee for a long time!

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titleCrisis Management

All workers should participate in security training based on their location:

Basic Threat Level: Online course through Concilium

Moderate/High Threat Level: In-person security training through Concilium or CIT.

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titleCross-Cultural Training

All workers should receive some level of cross-cultural training. This is usually a one-month in-person training and may also include some language acquisition training based on field requirements. You should plan to attend as one of your final steps before launching to the field.

See Pre-field Cross-Cultural Training for details

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As U.S. 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-basedHybrid Approach
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 workers are eligible for monthly Ministry Expense bonus, as well as International Bonuses for unique needs related to living internationally.
TaxesReliant withholds state tax based on where you are residing and working.

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