About Nard and Sandy Pugyao

Nard is a direct result of a translation ministry in the Philippines—first generation Christian from the Isnag language group, pilot/mechanic, and 1996 Moody Bible Institute Alumnus of the Year.

Sandy grew up in Waxhaw, NC. She graduated from Bryan College with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and became a schoolteacher. She and Nard met in Waxhaw in 1972 and were married in 1976.

After Nard’s training at Letourneau College and Moody Bible Institute, they joined the translation work in 1977 and served seven years in the Philippines, Nard as pilot/mechanic for both airplane and helicopter, and Sandy as a teacher. Nard flew the first 500 copies of the Isnag New Testament back to his own village of Dibagat after it was completed in 1982.

In 1987 Nard and Sandy were seconded to Moody Aviation, the flight school of Moody Bible Institute, where they worked for eight years. Nard served on the flight staff while Sandy helped in various ways, especially with students’ wives.

They were reassigned in May 1996 to work in recruitment – challenging churches and Christian colleges and universities in America with the importance of Bible translation, giving God’s Word in languages people understand best.

In November 1999, Nard was able to return to his home village in the Philippines to help with the premiere showing of the Luke video dubbed in his heart language of Isnag. This was another highlight in Nard’s life as he returned full circle to witness firsthand the continuing ripple effect of God’s Word in Isnag. Nard wants to see the Isnag indigenous church continues to grow, and hunger after God’s Word. 

When the Isnags started asking for New Testaments, Nard found out that there were only 500 copies of the Isnag New Testament left for 35,000 Isnags and to get another printing took a revision. A revision is when old words and phrases that are not well understood are replaced. He contacted Rudy Barlaan, one of the translators for the Isnags, to do the revision.

When Rudy agreed, and SIL Philippines approved it, it was decided that he needed a better place to work in the village of Dibagat than the one tiny room he was renting. God provide money to build him a house with an office downstairs. Nard and Sandy took four teams from the States to build the house in 2001 and reopen the airstrip.

They returned to the Philippines again in 2002 to supply solar power for Rudy. There is no power, running water, or roads to this day in Dibagat. Now, Rudy has power to run his computer for translation work and to light the church for evening services and even installed fans to give a little comfort of coolness in the church.

Nard and Sandy have two sons. Steven is in the Army and has a son, Alex. Phillip is serving in Okinawa with the Marines.