General Information

Who We Are

IDT Baja is a Christian organization dedicated to the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the betterment of the lives of the poor people of Mexico. Individuals and families join with IDT Baja, dedicating their lives to reaching out in love and compassion to the surrounding villages and camps, offering a future and a hope to those who formerly had none.

The History of IDT Baja

IDT Baja, founded over thirteen years ago as a subdivision of International Disciple Training, has provided Christian love to the people of Baja California, Mexico. Our primary focus is evangelism, discipleship and outreach. We encourage individuals, families and groups to experience the mission field first hand and share the love of Jesus in a practical way. In our geographical area, there are many people who have come from the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Sinaloa and other states on the mainland. Impacting these people with the Gospel also gives us the opportunity to share God's love through their many friends and relatives throughout Mexico. Whenever possible, we provide housing through a home building program participated in by over 3,000 visitors and 12 denominations from the United States & Canada annually. As supplies are available we also supply food and clothing to those in need, all freely given in the name of Jesus Christ. To date, the Lord has blessed us to build over 1,000 homes given freely to poor families, but more importantly – we had the opportunity to share the salvation message of the Gospel.
During the past several years, our work has blossomed to several community churches, five mission centers, a child day care center, and an orphanage. We have plans to expand down the Baja with other facilities including the possibility of a Bible School.

What is IDT?

I. D. T. (International Disciple Training) was founded over 20 years by Pastor Rance Cook. The past thirteen years have seen a tremendous growth in Baja California, ministering to the Mexicans and indigenous peoples who come from all over Mexico to work in the agricultural industry. These people are among the poorest of the poor in Mexico. Through various outreaches, and allot of loving care, the surrounding area is gradually being impacted by the Gospel. New homes in the surrounding villages are a testimony to the efforts made by the missionaries and visiting churches to exhibit the practical and boundless love of Jesus Christ. As the work expands, opportunities are arising all down the Baja, as well as in mainland Mexico. We are also blessed now to have works beginning in the nation of Israel, in the near future, a division in Canada and two new divisions in Northern California.

Rance Cook

Rance is the founder/director of International Disciple Training (IDT). For the past thirteen years, The Cooks, Rance, his wife, Brandy and son Santiago, have lived, in Baja California, Mexico. They have dedicated their lives to implementing the Lord's vision for IDT, which is to reach the nations with the Gospel, training and equipping the saints for leadership and ministry.

Objective/Purpose

The purpose of INTERNATIONAL DISCIPLE TRAINING is triune:

1. The worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In one God all and all;
2. The building up of the church of Jesus Christ through the teaching of the Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit;
3. The persuasion of men to repent and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

Location/Demographics

In our geographical area, there are many people who have come from the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Sinaloa and other states on the mainland. They primarily come to the Baja to work in the vast agricultural fields in our area. These people are among the poorest of the poor in Mexico, some living in large camps in primitive conditions provided by ranch owners, even though they were promised good jobs and homes. There are not many jobs that last all year round, which makes it very difficult for them to get through the winter. Those living in these camps may also speak different languages, such as Triqui or Mixteco, and have very different cultures and traditions from each other as well as from the local people, which makes the transition very difficult. They are the underdogs of society here, often discriminated against and treated as a lower class.

Vicente Guerrero

The ministry is located in the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, about 200 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border, in the small rural town of Vicente Guerrero. We maintain a base on the outskirts of Vicente Guerrero which is growing in population and offers several grocery stores, specialty shops, automotive parts and repair, gas stations, an orphanage, medical clinics, two small hospitals, several internet cafés and public telephones.
San Quintin is a larger town about 12 miles south of Vicente Guerrero. Gas, stores, hospital and clinic are available there as well.

Climate

Vicente Guerrero enjoys a pleasant, temperate climate due to its Pacific Coast location.

- Temperatures range from 28° to 85° F

• Spring (late Feb. to Apr.) --50° to 75°
• Summer (May to Sept.) --55° to 85°
• Fall (late Sept. to Nov.) --50° to 75°
• Winter (Nov. to Feb.) --28° to 75°

Rain averages only 2”to 4” annually but can be heavy at times. It typically occurs mid October through April. Hot spells do occur in summer, when temperatures may range from 85° to 100°+ F. Dust storms and strong winds do occur quite often–contact lens wearers may want to consider glasses during their visit in Mexico. Cold weather, with temperatures falling to around 28° F, do occur in winter. It is often cold in the mornings and evenings, even in early fall and late spring.

The Board

Rance Cook, President, Founder and CEO

Gary Boggs, Vice-president

Dean Schilling, Secretary

Bill Sopher, Treasurer

Steve Yoshimi

Stan Schulz

Rich Newman

Funding

I.D.T. is strictly a faith-based ministry. No one in the organization receives a salary. For those who wish to make donations, I.D.T. is a California non-profit corporation, which receives tax-deductible donations for their staff missionaries as well as the organization. All specific donations should be clearly marked and sent to

I.D.T.
P.O. Box 128
Acampo, California
95220

The Main Mission Director, Bill Sopher, can also be contacted for transportation of donated food and other supplies.

Statement of Faith

• We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, governs all, knows all, and is everlasting.
• We believe that the SCRIPTURES of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired, without error in the manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.
• We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and gives eternal life to all who call to Him through Jesus Christ. That God the Father has given gifts to the church.
• We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven perpetual intercession for His people, His personal, visible return to earth, that He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He has given gifts and offices to the Body of believers for the perfecting of the church.
• We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe that Jesus is the Christ; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of Biblical gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit in believers of Jesus Christ.
• We believe that all men are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore under condemnation, that God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord; that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and given power for service, often subsequent to regeneration.
• We believe in the universal Church, the living, spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members.
• We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church: (1) baptism, and (2) the Lord's Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers.
• We believe in the “laying on of hands” for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for ordination of pastors, elders, and deacons, and for receiving gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the personal, visible return of Christ to the earth and the establishment of His Kingdom; in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and the eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.
• We believe in what is termed “The Apostle's Creed” as embodying fundamental facts of the Christian faith.