Ranch
La Roca’s Discipleship Ranch is just that, we Disciple men and youth to become missionaries for Jesus Christ. We help the men to get off drugs and alcohol or whatever their problem might be, but our goal goes way beyond that.
They are told, if they are just looking for help to get off drugs they are in the wrong place. Because our goal in not just to get them of drugs but to make Disciples of Jesus!
So those who come with us are serious about their decision. Ready to get off whatever, cold turkey and many have made it and have gone to become a new creation in Jesus. We hold up 30 men and youth not including staff.
Our program is one year long and the men are taught what we call the four pillars, which is all out of the Holy Scriptures. Many have come to us without drug problems because they have heard we have a Bible School along with the program and they wanted to be discipled. It is good to know we have established this kind of relationship with those around us.
Rudy Martinez
Director of Discipleship Ranch Tijuana, Mexico
Growing Up
Rudy Martinez was abandoned by his parents as a young child. He was raised by his grandmother in Northern California. Rudy grew up very poor and began getting involved in violence at a young age. He stabbed his first person on a basketball court when he was 12 years old. Rudy was incarcerated in various juvenile detention centers in northern California.
Gangs, Prison, Violence
When he was released, Rudy continued getting into trouble, and was involved in narcotics, gang activity, and violence. He continued to be incarcerated throughout Northern California. He spent years at San Quentin, Folsom, Corcoran, and Pelican Bay Prison. He moved up in the prison gang, and was given authority over other gang members. He was involved in numerous violent assaults on other inmates of rival gangs. This eventually landed him in the “SHOE” for three years. He was locked up in a cell for 23 hours of every day. The only time he left the cell was to do some exercise by himself in a cage.
A Miracle
One day Rudy had received an order to stab another inmate. Rudy jumped the other inmate, and began stabbing him in the prison yard. The correctional officer who stopped Rudy before he killed the inmate mentioned God to him. Rudy ignored the comment, but he later began thinking about it. He says that after that incident he received a bible and began reading it alone in his cell. While in his cell alone, he remembers kneeling down and praying. He said that right there he dedicated his life to Jesus Christ. Shortly after that, Rudy was released from prison, and began living in a home set up by City Team Ministries in San Jose, Ca. After eight months there, his life turned around, and Rudy says his life was completely changed by the power of Jesus Christ. He is now married with 2 beautiful children and works in TJ, Mexico with La Roca ministries helping others just like him.
Boys At The Ranch
Alejandro Silva Hernandez - Alejandro is 17 years old and has been at the ranch for 2 years now. He is at the ranch learning to serve the Lord. He says he has truly found a family there. Alejandro likes to read, study the bible and practice music. He sings on the worship team and has started playing the bass.
Christian Lopez Bartolon- Christian is 17 years old and has been with us for almost 2 years. He is with us so that he can grow in his relationship with God and mature in all the areas he needs to and to demonstrate that God is making a change in his life. Christian will also be starting school in the fall. He enjoys playing soccer, singing and playing the guitar. He plays the guitar every Sunday with the worship team.
Julio Cesar Padilla Alvarez – Julio is 16 years old and has been at the ranch for 2 years. He was having many problems with his family, so he came with Rudy and Sofia to the ranch. He is advancing and growing thanks to bible school and the studies at the ranch such as: 4 Pillars, Victory Over the Darkness and Purpose Driven Life. Thanks to God and the servers at the ranch he has changed significantly. Julio loves to play soccer and all types of sports.
Gustavo Medina Baldes – Gustavo is 15 years old and has been at the ranch for 8 months. He is with us because his mother married one of the Leaders serving at the ranch. Since he has been with us he has done completed several bible studies, such as: 4 Pillars, Victory Over the Darkness and Purpose driven Life. Gustavo likes music and is learning to play the piano.
Jesús – Jesús is 17 years old and has been with us for 9 months. He is at the ranch because he was having family problems which were causing personal problems such as: rebellion and a lot of anger issues. Now Jesús is in our bibles school, and has completed several bible studies including: 4Pillars, Victory Over the Darkness and Purpose Driven Life. He is in the process of entering High School right now and enjoys worshipping God through singing and playing the guitar.
The Discipleship Ranch of La Roca Ministries
Link to this page-
Carlos, Rossy & Girls 
La Roca Ministries reaches out to touch people’s lives that are devastated by poverty, neglect and despair. These people find themselves enslaved to drugs and alcohol and living in the streets of Tijuana, Mexico. Our desire is to mirror Christ’s compassion and concern to these people.
It has been said, “give a person a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a life.” We believed in “teaching people how to fish”. We want to see lives transformed and we believe that comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our program seeks to help rebuild lives by making disciples; raising up men, women and teens as future leaders and missionaries, and sending them forth to advance the Kingdom of God on earth.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support. You are making a difference today and for eternity! -
My name is Amanda and I am 22 years old. I have been coming to Tj since I was 14. I came down here last month (January) to stay for a year. Its amazing being here and watching people’s lives being changed by the various ministries. I am so blessed to be here. I know a lot of people worry about the violence and decide not to come. But there is no reason to be afraid. Out of all the times I’ve been down here, I’ve never had a problem with anything. We’ve actually gone to the beach in the evening had a small worship service before. You shouldn’t wander off alone to late, but it’s not like you should do that in any city. I’m more scared when I’m wandering around my own city at night then I am here. All I know is that God called me here, and nothing will stop me because I have him on my side. There is a phrase I keep posted that says, “Fear knocked at the door, and faith answered, there was no one there.” What more is there to say ?
