Reliant's general policy for international missionaries employed by Reliant includes taking a furlough Stateside every 2 years. The goal of a furlough is for rest and relaxation for the missionary in addition to shoring up of missionary funding and generally lasts 3 months. Other furlough arrangements are allowable with approval from field leadership and HR.
The furlough form and the travel notification form must be completed with all expected travel.
See also: Travel Assistance insurance for ACE International Travel Assistance information.
| 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. |
In preparation for my furlough below are a list of questions that may help prepare you as you return to the States:
MTD
- Do I have a plan to spend at least 1 month prior to leaving making calls to schedule MTD appointments?
- What is my MTD goal while Stateside? How much do I hope to raise in (ex. recurring gifts?)
- Are there MTD supplies I need to order prior to my arriving in the US? See Returning to Full-Time MTD Resources
Personal
- Have I scheduled time for relaxation and refreshment (not including time with family in the States)?
- Are there any specific areas I need to be praying through while on furlough?
- What are your expectations when you come back with family and friends?
- What is realistic?
Reliant Office
Do I have specific questions for the Reliant office to bring up during my professional debrief?
- Insurance Questions
- Support goal worksheet questions
- MTD questions
- Policy questions
- Reimbursement questions
Sending Church
- Are there any areas of concern that I need to discuss with my sending pastor/church?
- What tools or support might I need from my sending church?
- Do I feel I have a good level of support and/or communication from my sending church?
- What other support would I like to see?
Tips
For MTD:
- Begin thinking about MTD and your furlough about 6 months prior. Take those 6 months to "scrub" your Reliant donor data.
- About 2 months prior begin planning and making contact to schedule appointments with Stateside.
- Consider multiple communication tools such as Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Texting, Email, etc.
- Consider asking existing donors to increase their giving.
General Tips:
- Some Retreat Centers are free to missionaries if you reserve them in advance.
- This is a great opportunity for your family to get away and do something relaxing for free.
- Schedule a call with the Reliant Office prior to your furlough.