The Rugs are from St. Louis and John is a graduate of Covenant Seminary. Cathy is a member of Good Shepherd Church and John of the MO Presbytery. Since 1984 the Rugs have been serving in Chile on a church-planting team with MTW. During their early years they were able to shepherd a Bible study group into becoming a healthy church in San Pedro. In recent years they have been on a team ministering in Vina del Mar. John and Cathy have four children: Ana Beth, Elena, Juanita, and Benjamin.