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There are may be times when an international worker wishes to change the ministry with which they serve while remaining assigned overseas with Reliant. It may be an expected transition, such as moving you may choose to move to a new ministry while staying employed with Reliant. These could be:

• Planned: Moving to a long-term team

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• after an initial residency or training program.

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• Unplanned: Due to life changes or ministry-related differences with your current

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• team or

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• leadership.

Whatever the situation, we want you to have reason, our goal is to provide you with the tools and support you need to transition well. Keep in mind, continued employment past any transitional phase is contingent on

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Steps for Transition

1. Communicate to Reliant and provide the reasons and timeline

   Notify Reliant
   Share your reasons for the transition

   .
2. Communicate to your current leadership and work together to make transition plans.

3. and your proposed timeline.

4. Inform Your Current Leadership
   Work together to create a transition plan.

5. Confirm Good Standing
   Reliant will verify

   Reliant will confirm

   with your current leadership that you are leaving on good terms or having reconciled any conflict.

   1. Either a statement from your current ministry
   2. or your most recent Annual Review will be provided to the new ministry.

   This can be done via

   • Written letter of reference
   • Your most recent annual review

6. Connect Reliant with Your New Ministry
   We will guide them

   Connect Reliant to your new ministry. We will go

   through the New Partnership Process

   with them

   .

7. Communicate

   the change to your Financial partners

   with Financial Partners
   Inform them of your transition and invite continued partnership.

8. Finish

   your time wellConsider

   Well
   Complete your responsibilities and consider taking a

   brief

   short break (furlough

   /

   , sabbatical, or debrief

   , etc

   ) before

   beginning

   starting your new role.

9. Submit Updated Documents

   • A
   Provide Reliant with a
   • new Job Description
   and
   • A Support Goal Worksheet
   . 
   • New SGW and Crisis Management plans if moving countries

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Transition Planning

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Checklist

When planning your transition, considerHere are the key items to think about in planning a ministry transition:

• Desired timing of the transition

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• Impact on

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1. How will this affect people that the worker shepherds? (It should be considered normal that the worker does not bring their network of disciples with them if they move from one congregation to another and remain in the same city as this would trigger a church split.  At the same time, the leadership of the ministry has the right to bless the out-going worker with that discipleship group if they wish and if it is not disruptive.)
2. Who will assume the worker's responsibilities?
3. Are there major ministry initiatives or events that need to be considered for timing?

• your current ministry and those you shepherd
• Who will assume your responsibilities
• Major ministry events or initiatives that could affect timing
• When and how donors will be notified
• Contact information for your new supervisor and ministry
• A brief description of your new role

Note: If you remain in the same city, it is generally expected that you will not take your discipleship network with you, as this could cause division. However, your current leadership may choose to bless you with that group if it is not disruptive.

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Decision & Discernment Period

If it’s clear you will transition but your

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Decision/Discernment

When it is clear that a transition will take place, but next steps are uncertain, Reliant provides the worker with  90 days of decision and discernment starting the day after their your current responsibilities end. This is in addition to any final furlough or sabbatical that may be used in conjunction with a transition. The intention of the decision and discernment period is. During this time, you can:

• Evaluate your calling to continue in a support-based ministry role

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• Seek counsel from your Sending Church and

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• trusted

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• advisors
• Explore new opportunities and network

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• with like-minded workers

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• Spend significant time in prayer for

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• guidance

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Communicating

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with Donors

When informing your financial partners:

• Celebrate

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•  your time with your current ministry

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• (share 1–2 key impacts)
• Thank them for their partnership

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• Explain

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1. Provide details about the new role
2. Or provide details about decision and discernment

•  your transition and timeline
• Share details about your new role or discernment period
• Avoid negative comments about people or ministries
• Invite continued partnership during the transition and beyond
• Send your draft letter to international@reliant.org before sharing it with your ministry team

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