About Us

Ranch Children Group Smiling

What is Rancho Santa Marta?

Rancho Santa Marta is a non-denominational Evangelical Christian Ministry for needy Mexican children. Our Mission and Vision is to expand the reach of the Gospel in our region of Mexico by meeting the needs for these children-at-risk. We provide this primarily on our 450-acre ranch property near San Vicente, a town 130 miles south of San Diego on the Baja California peninsula. Our two foundational programs are a home for homeless, orphaned or abused children, and a kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school with a special education mainstreaming program for children with learning disabilities.

TL;DR RSM is a Christian ministry that helps children with learning disabilities in Mexico by providing a home and school.

Faith Statement

What we believe…

  • We believe that all Scripture is the inspired Word of God without error and is the authoritative guide for living. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

  • We believe that God is one in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – eternal in being and equal in power and glory; that He created all things in the heavens and earth by His spoken word. (2 Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1)

  • We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, regenerate sinners upon believing in Jesus Christ, and that He indwells believers to guide, instruct, and empower them for Godly service. (John 16:8-11, Galatians 5:15-17)

  • We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, died rose again the third day and is now at the right hand of God. (Luke 1:35, 1 Cor. 15: 3-4, Rom. 8:34)

  • We believe that man was created by God in His image, but fell into sin. Only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ can he be saved. (Genesis 1:26, Romans 3:23, John 1:12, I John 1:9)

  • We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ. We believe that the hope of His coming again affects the personal life and service of all believers. (I Corinthians 15:52-58)

  • We believe in the bodily resurrection of believers to everlasting life with Christ and unbelievers to judgment and eternal separation from God. ( I Thessalonians 4:16-17, John 5:28-29)

Full Arial view of RSM

Purpose Statement

RSM is a Christ-centered home for at risk and special need Mexican children, youth and adults with disabilities that provides a safe and loving environment as well as a Christian school  allowing them to develop:

  • Physically – core needs of food, shelter, and medical attention

  • Emotionally – proper counseling and nurturing; discipline and emotional healing

  • Socially – provide opportunities for positive social interaction

  • Spiritually – train, equip and model a Christian walk that wants to reach others for Christ

  • Educationally – student-orientated, hands-on education with a life-skills focus

Our School

Colegio Santa Marta

We believe every child has the opportunity to be in school and provided with all the tools necessary for learning. Whether it be a new math strategy, sign language or in depth counseling, it is our vision to help them flourish according to their abilities.

A Place for Bright Futures

A young boy in a school uniform shows his science project of a light bulb simulating a lunar eclipse.

Our school provides a safe learning environment for over 300 kindergarten through 12th grade students. Our focus is on children with learning challenges.

More about the School

Children walk to bus stop

Bus Stop

Our school has attracted widespread interest in the community and the surrounding region. We operate school bus service to nearby San Vicente as well as to communities as far as 20 miles away to the south. The opportunity for quality Christian education holds broad appeal in this rural area where the under-resourced public school system limits the potential of the students to achieve up to their capabilities, especially those requiring special educational support.   We have expanded rapidly to meet needs, and we currently have 300 students enrolled, including many of our own children.

The front of the finished Ensenada house.

Our Programs

We operate several programs that support our school:

• A home in Ensenada for youth graduating from our school to continue their education at a university.
• A two-week summer trade school open to youth from nearby communities
• Assisted living program for our adult “children” who are older in age but because of their lower mental capabilities cannot live independently of adult supervision.
• Facilities for church and humanitarian groups to be able to develop relationships with the children and serve through construction and maintenance projects.

A group of trade school student gather around a picnic bench that they made.

Special Needs

Our school welcomes children with learning disabilities. The program began originally for our own children whose recovery from the damage of their devastating life experiences required skills and programs not available in the public schools. However, as our capability became known, requests from the surrounding community and from other children’s homes impelled us to open our school to the outside.  We are happy to serve in this way.