For years, the Pastor of Last Chance Ministries (LCM), Jimmy Robles, 47 has helped many citizens across San Antonio and now unfortunately, with the recent death of his eldest daughter, Victoria (September, 2016) he is now turning his own hardship into hope.
Robles founded Last Chance Ministries in 2009 after years of dealing drugs. Over time, his ministry has grown to serve many across the San Antonio area. But, the death of his Daughter has now led Robles and his wife, Annette to help parents through the crisis of losing a child.
His newest project evolved out of the tragic death of his daughter, Victoria. He is writing a book about the challenges and struggles associated with losing a child.
Although, Pastor Robles, 47, from San Antonio, has had his share of hardships, from losing his job and the family home to most recently dealing with the accidental death of his eldest daughter, Victoria.
He’s overcome challenges and adversity. This well-known West Side Pastor is victorious over the issues he has faced, and he is instrumental in leading many of his congregation, toward the Lord.
Robles and his wife Annette along with their children, Victoria, Mariah and Jimmy Jr. have made Last Chance Ministries a welcome place in what is known as one of the lowest economic areas of San Antonio, the West Side. They bring joy, comfort and help to their community.
Robles who was born and raised on the West Side of San Antonio, and attended Luther Burbank High School.
As a young family man, Robles was living a double life, he was a working husband and father of 3, and, he was a cocaine drug dealer.
His journey to turn his life around began after a 3-day A.C.T.S. retreat sponsored by his local Catholic Church. A.C.T.S. stands for adoration, community, theology and service. Retreats are hosted by parishioners for parishioners. Retreatants are immersed into deep reflection by giving up all outside influences such as cell phones, electronic devices, clocks and watches.
This retreat changed his life.
In walking away from drugs, he also walked away from his extra income and supporting a family of five became a struggle.
But, his faith kept him preaching to anyone who would listen. Every weekend he could be found in a vacant lot on the corner of Zarzamora and Popular Street preaching to others.
Robles persistence paid off, and a local citizen provided the funding, for not one but two buildings.
His West Side church is well-known for helping the community and annually holds back-to-school events, where they partner with many other local organizations and businesses to provide backpacks filled with school supplies to anyone who comes by the church, free haircuts, free vaccinations and school uniforms. It’s a festive event complete with live music to prepare the children for the school year.
They also have two other annual events, a Thanksgiving meal and a Christmas party complete with thousands of gifts for the children of the West Side.
His church has also initiated sports programs with the aim of keeping the kids off the streets. One of the buildings on site was converted into a boxing gym, and an empty lot down the road is now a sports complex, complete with three baseball fields, two basketball courts and a walking track.
On September 11, 2016, the Sunday after Victoria died, Pastor Robles approached the pulpit with a bat in his hand. He understandably said, “I feel like I was hit, hard, with a bat, I don’t know if you’ve been hit hard that you don’t know where it came from.”
He went on to express although it’s hard to get up and out of bed and attend church, he knows his Tory is in a better place, in heaven with mansions made of gold.
“When you serve God expect to get hit in the Name of Jesus, Amen,” said Pastor Robles.
A baseball bat has become his symbol for continuing through a difficult time. Pastor and Mrs. Robles offer each family a personalized bat engraved with their child’s name on it. It’s a small token of understanding and working together to live through the grief.
This past January, the Robles family worked with City Councilwoman, District 5, Shirley Gonzales to get the block directly in front of the church named for Victoria. It is now known as the Victoria Robles Memorial Way.
In February 2013 when Gonzales was first running for city council, she attended Robles’ church. She was first impressed with his scripture messages.
“Robles approached me a few months after the death of Victoria about naming the block and as an advocate for the Vision Zero initiative I agreed to this positive change,” Gonzales said.
Vision Zero is a city-wide initiative to reduce fatalities on the road. Through vision zero the community shares the responsibility of road safety with the designers of the roads and those who use the roads.
When asked if Pastor Robles has changed since the death of his daughter, Gonzales said, “Pastor Jimmy has always been very faithful to Christ and his strong foundation has helped him to recover and get the message out to more people, his message has become stronger and we have to be grateful for our blessings. Turning to God when things get difficult.”
Employee Stacy Tello, 26, said, she has seen change in the Robles’ “in a good way though, I mean ever since the accident, I know they reach out to a lot of the families who have the same tragic accidents, everything that they’ve done, it’s amazing how they’re in pain but yet still both going and helping those that are going through the same thing their going through.”
One can only expect more good things to come for this Pastor and his church. Out of tragedy, he is victorious.
