General Policy

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

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

Furloughs are temporary work assignments away from the missionary's field of service. Therefore lodging, travel and ministry expenses are reimbursable. While we want missionaries to pursue activities that renew them, furlough activities are typically far from restful. 

We understand that while on furlough, it may be difficult to separate "working days" and "PTO days" since many locations you visit will serve dual purposes. Remember, Reliant does not track your PTO, whether on a furlough year or a non-furlough year. It is between you and your supervisor to determine how closely you will track your PTO. Keep in mind that time off is a vital part of furlough and should not be neglected. This will enable you to return to the field ready for a new term, rather than returning more depleted than when you left.

International employees must consult with their supervisors to determine an appropriate time for furlough in order to minimize disruptions to the ministry. Consideration will be given to families with school-age children who desire to coordinate their home service with school breaks. All furlough requests must be approved by a supervisor at least one month prior to the home-service departure date. Reliant recommends that furloughs are scheduled at least six months in advance. 

Because medical treatment may be more expensive in the US than overseas, if you plan to have a major medical procedure while in the U.S., it is best practice to notify Aetna ahead of time for approval, even if pre-approval is not explicitly stated or required.

If you are not covered under the Aetna plan, but have a national plan through your country of service, you are responsible for knowing what your plan covers while you are in the US and obtaining additional insurances as necessary.

In preparing for furlough, International employees should conduct a thorough review of their MTD status. If missionaries are below 85% of their monthly support goal, they should make a plan for MTD while on furlough. Missionaries who have a higher percentage should still consider how their monthly expenses might change during their next term and plan to raise additional funds as needed. Reliant has many options to help missionaries with sustaining MTD as it becomes a need. Missionaries can request to be connected with a coach or to a cohort of fellow missionaries for mutual encouragement and support. Contact international@reliant.org for more information.

International missionaries should notify Reliant of their travel plans for furlough using the Travel Notification form. Please include your "home base" and up-to-date contact information. You do not need to list out every city within the US that you plan to visit. Unless you inform us otherwise, we will assume you have returned to your country of service on the date noted on the form. Please send an email to international@reliant.org if your travel plans change from what you originally submitted.

Expenses incurred during home assignments are considered work-related and are eligible for reimbursement according to Reliant's reimbursement policies. Such expenses include airfare to and from the United States, transportation costs, lodging and food expenses (see Per Diem - U.S.). Some expenses (such as those for family members not employed by Reliant) may be reimbursed, but are considered taxable according to Reliant's reimbursement policies.

International missionaries are requested to schedule a professional debrief with a member of the International Team during their furloughs. This is best done between the second and fourth week of furlough. It lasts approximately 90 minutes. The professional debrief allows missionaries to inform the Reliant team about successes, challenges and needs they have experienced during their prior term as it relates to their ministry role, MTD and their employment with Reliant. We invite and encourage non-employed or associate spouses to join the professional debriefs. We recommend and expect that someone from the missionary's ministry or church will conduct a personal/spiritual debrief during the furlough.

You do not have to wait until you are returning from the field permanently to attend a debrief retreat. Many workers choose to attend one during furlough. In fact, it may be incredibly helpful in order to prepare for your next term. We recommend the DAR program from MTI, but you are welcome to explore options from different centers.

Are you a part of a country that has a totalization agreement? If you are a missionary in one of the countries listed in the Furlough Request, you may need to plan a 6-month exit from the host country every 5 years to comply with the agreement, Please contact hr@reliant.org if you have questions.