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Stop and think for a moment: Do you remember the first time you heard about Jesus?

For Nard Pugyao, it happened when he was 7 years old. It was 1956 when Wycliffe Bible translator Dick Roe arrived in Nard’s mountain village of Dibagat in the Philippines.

Nard watched Dick learn his language — called Isnag — and begin to translate the Gospel of Mark. Nard was curious about God, so he began to study the booklet Dick was working on.

He learned that God had allowed His one and only Son, Jesus, to be killed. Nard was angry and wanted to know why God hadn’t protected His Son! That’s when Nard heard God tell him, “Nard, I did that for you.” Nard continued to read and learned that Jesus didn’t stay dead;

He was risen!
Jesus was victorious over sin and death!

Nard was amazed, and he decided he wanted to give his heart to Jesus. It wasn’t long before Nard also knew that he wanted to be a part of helping others get the Bible in their own language.

He went into aviation and joined Wycliffe in 1977 — more than two decades after Dick Roe first came to Nard’s village to start translating the Bible!

But Nard is only part of this story. Let’s introduce you to another man named Rudy Barlaan.

In 1971, Rudy moved to Dibagat to do a year of language learning for a Bible translation consultation role with SIL Philippines. He hadn’t planned on staying in Dibagat, but God had other plans.
Rudy ultimately joined Dick in the translation work and in 1982, the New Testament was completed and distributed to the people.

Then in 2006, a revised New Testament was distributed, along with the books of Genesis and Exodus. Rudy celebrated with the Isnag people.
“It’s a privilege to be appointed by God to do the translation into Isnag. The Lord worked everything out for the Isnags and especially for His name. Everything He does is for His own glory and for His name’s sake. We obey Him, and so His plan always gets carried out.”
— rudy barlaan
Play voice recording
At the time, Old Testament translation wasn’t part of SIL Philippines’ strategy, so it seemed like the work was done. But — plot twist! — God once again had other plans. He  sent someone to help Rudy with the work: Nard’s nephew, a man named Mark Pugyao.

Mark had pastored the Dibagat Bible Church for a year when Rudy invited him to join in translating the Bible for his community. Mark ultimately said “yes,” and after completing school, translated the Old Testament while Rudy served as a consultant.

Today, Mark has the joy of experiencing God’s entire Word in his heart language, Isnag.
My heart is just melting. It’s like butter melting when I read it in my own heart language. I understand every single word that the Lord says in His Word. I am really excited to share what I felt when I read through all this — the whole Bible in my heart language.
Mark
Play voice recording
For Nard — and the entire Isnag community — the wait is over. They hold the full counsel of God’s Word in their hands.
“66 years I waited for this whole Bible to come. It’s amazing to see what God has done. The impact of the Word coming to the Isnags … I marvel in awe and say, ‘God, this is it.’”
nard Pugyao
Play voice recording
But the real journey is just starting for the Isnag people, as they can now see the God who loves them more clearly and know Him more deeply! Nard’s niece, Enol Paul, rejoices for the opportunities and new life this will bring.
In this area, we are the first one[s] to complete the Bible from Old and New Testament. I saw a lot of people excited to get the Bible. I hope that when they get the Bible, they read it with the kids, explain what it is and tell them how important that book is — not tearing it, but treating it as if it’s precious. That is a treasure for them.”
Enol paul
Play voice recording
Enol told the story of a 69-year-old woman who had spent a lifetime hearing about Jesus in her own language. Yet, it was only after she had the whole Bible that the Good News fully sunk in and began to transform her.
That’s how the Bible impacted her. Even though she goes to church every Sunday, she realized that the Word of God is really touching her.
Enol Paul
Play voice recording
Enol’s life has also been transformed by God’s Word! While she speaks four languages, reading the Scriptures in Isnag made the truth come alive in new ways.
When I read John 3:16 in my own language … I realized that this is what God did for me. He did this for me. He gave His only Son for me. How do I know that God gave His Son if it’s not translated into my language — the Isnag language?”
Enol Paul
Play voice recording
With tears in her eyes, Enol declared:
This is very memorable for me [and] the only thing that I will never forget in my life. The Word of God came to our remote area. This is how amazing God is — that He’s going to every language, every nation.
Enol paul
Play voice recording
The Isnag now have the full Bible, but their story isn’t complete yet!
Now that the translation is done, I want to continue the ministry, especially in helping the people see Christ in the Old Testament. I just love the Word so much; it’s become my life. I told them that ‘God gave me to you, and I’m here for good.
Rudy Barlaan
Play voice recording
And so Rudy’s work continues. He has faithfully served the Lord for decades and intends to continue for the rest of his life.

Nard, Rudy, Mark and Enol are just a handful of the stories of God’s transforming power. They represent the reality that behind every new language engaged, behind every Bible translation project started, and behind every Scripture completed, lives are impacted for all eternity.

God’s plans have been carried out for the Isnag, and they will continue to be carried out as the next generation grows up with the full counsel of God’s Word in a language and format they clearly understand.

This is why Bible translation matters: It provides people with an opportunity to understand just how much God loves them.

Nard, now an old man, who has trusted that God will fulfill His promise to the Isnags and faithfully championed the work for decades.
Rudy, who has invested a lifetime in seeing these brothers and sisters in Christ understand the full story of Jesus in Isnag.
Mark, who — having personally experienced the impact of Scripture access —  has faithfully worked to bring the Old Testament to his own people.
Enol, who has experienced personal transformation and wants to encourage families to experience the same for themselves.
It shows that they have value and worth and that God not only sees them, but knows them personally — even when they live in a small, remote village in the northern Philippines. May we never forget the treasure that God’s Word is in our own lives and the privilege it is to be a part of making His name known among the nations!

We won’t stop working until all cripture is made available FOR ALL PEOPLE

Choose A Story

Making a Difference Now and For Generations to Come

The Journey Toward Our Promised Future
Read Story
The Journey to the Isnag Bible
Read Story
A Church-Owned Translation in Madagascar
Read Story
Kate & Mack: A Mission For All Ages
Read Story

Stop and think for a moment: Do you remember the first time you heard about Jesus?

For Nard Pugyao, it happened when he was 7 years old. It was 1956 when Wycliffe Bible translator Dick Roe arrived in Nard’s mountain village of Dibagat in the Philippines.

Nard watched Dick learn his language — called Isnag — and begin to translate the Gospel of Mark. Nard was curious about God, so he began to study the booklet Dick was working on.

He learned that God had allowed His one and only Son, Jesus, to be killed. Nard was angry and wanted to know why God hadn’t protected His Son! That’s when Nard heard God tell him, “Nard, I did that for you.” Nard continued to read and learned that Jesus didn’t stay dead;

He was risen!
Jesus was victorious over sin and death!

Section background.NardNardNard
Nard was amazed, and he decided he wanted to give his heart to Jesus. It wasn’t long before Nard also knew that he wanted to be a part of helping others get the Bible in their own language.

He went into aviation and joined Wycliffe in 1977 — more than two decades after Dick Roe first came to Nard’s village to start translating the Bible!

But Nard is only part of this story. Let’s introduce you to another man named Rudy Barlaan.

In 1971, Rudy moved to Dibagat to do a year of language learning for a Bible translation consultation role with SIL Philippines. He hadn’t planned on staying in Dibagat, but God had other plans.
Section background.
Rudy ultimately joined Dick in the translation work and in 1982, the New Testament was completed and distributed to the people.

Then in 2006, a revised New Testament was distributed, along with the books of Genesis and Exodus. Rudy celebrated with the Isnag people.
“It’s a privilege to be appointed by God to do the translation into Isnag. The Lord worked everything out for the Isnags and especially for His name. Everything He does is for His own glory and for His name’s sake. We obey Him, and so His plan always gets carried out.”
— rudy barlaan
Play voice recording
At the time, Old Testament translation wasn’t part of SIL Philippines’ strategy, so it seemed like the work was done. But — plot twist! — God once again had other plans. He  sent someone to help Rudy with the work: Nard’s nephew, a man named Mark Pugyao.

Mark had pastored the Dibagat Bible Church for a year when Rudy invited him to join in translating the Bible for his community. Mark ultimately said “yes,” and after completing school, translated the Old Testament while Rudy served as a consultant.

Today, Mark has the joy of experiencing God’s entire Word in his heart language, Isnag.
My heart is just melting. It’s like butter melting when I read it in my own heart language. I understand every single word that the Lord says in His Word. I am really excited to share what I felt when I read through all this — the whole Bible in my heart language.
Mark
Play voice recording
Mark with family
Mark's bible
Mark's message
For Nard — and the entire Isnag community — the wait is over. They hold the full counsel of God’s Word in their hands.
“66 years I waited for this whole Bible to come. It’s amazing to see what God has done. The impact of the Word coming to the Isnags … I marvel in awe and say, ‘God, this is it.’”
nard Pugyao
Play voice recording
But the real journey is just starting for the Isnag people, as they can now see the God who loves them more clearly and know Him more deeply! Nard’s niece, Enol Paul, rejoices for the opportunities and new life this will bring.
In this area, we are the first one[s] to complete the Bible from Old and New Testament. I saw a lot of people excited to get the Bible. I hope that when they get the Bible, they read it with the kids, explain what it is and tell them how important that book is — not tearing it, but treating it as if it’s precious. That is a treasure for them.”
Enol paul
Play voice recording
Enol told the story of a 69-year-old woman who had spent a lifetime hearing about Jesus in her own language. Yet, it was only after she had the whole Bible that the Good News fully sunk in and began to transform her.
That’s how the Bible impacted her. Even though she goes to church every Sunday, she realized that the Word of God is really touching her.
Enol Paul
Play voice recording
Enol’s life has also been transformed by God’s Word! While she speaks four languages, reading the Scriptures in Isnag made the truth come alive in new ways.
When I read John 3:16 in my own language … I realized that this is what God did for me. He did this for me. He gave His only Son for me. How do I know that God gave His Son if it’s not translated into my language — the Isnag language?”
Enol Paul
Play voice recording
With tears in her eyes, Enol declared:
This is very memorable for me [and] the only thing that I will never forget in my life. The Word of God came to our remote area. This is how amazing God is — that He’s going to every language, every nation.
Enol paul
Play voice recording
Rudy
Rudy's bible
Rudy message
The Isnag now have the full Bible, but their story isn’t complete yet!
Now that the translation is done, I want to continue the ministry, especially in helping the people see Christ in the Old Testament. I just love the Word so much; it’s become my life. I told them that ‘God gave me to you, and I’m here for good.
Rudy Barlaan
Play voice recording
And so Rudy’s work continues. He has faithfully served the Lord for decades and intends to continue for the rest of his life.

Nard, Rudy, Mark and Enol are just a handful of the stories of God’s transforming power. They represent the reality that behind every new language engaged, behind every Bible translation project started, and behind every Scripture completed, lives are impacted for all eternity.

God’s plans have been carried out for the Isnag, and they will continue to be carried out as the next generation grows up with the full counsel of God’s Word in a language and format they clearly understand.

As the celebration in Dibagat wrapped up and Bibles were distributed, the significance of the day and of God’s grace to His people was on display through these beautiful people:

Nard, now an old man, who has trusted that God will fulfill His promise to the Isnags and faithfully championed the work for decades.
Rudy, who has invested a lifetime in seeing these brothers and sisters in Christ understand the full story of Jesus in Isnag.
Mark, who — having personally experienced the impact of Scripture access —  has faithfully worked to bring the Old Testament to his own people.
Enol, who has experienced personal transformation and wants to encourage families to experience the same for themselves.

This is why Bible translation matters: It provides people with an opportunity to understand just how much God loves them.

It shows that they have value and worth and that God not only sees them, but knows them personally — even when they live in a small, remote village in the northern Philippines.
May we never forget the treasure that God’s Word is in our own lives and the privilege it is to be a part of making His name known among the nations!
Bible
Choose A Story

Making a Difference Now and For Generations to Come

The Journey Toward
Our Promised Future
Read story
The Journey to the
Isnag Bible
Read story
A Church-Owned Translation
in Madagascar
Read story
Kate & Mack: A Mission For All Ages
Read story
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