King’s Compassion Ministry restores dignity
Showing the love of God
to San Antonio’s elderly poor
BY AMY MORGAN
B E A CON W R I T E R
Almost 20 years ago, God dramatically
grabbed Robert Reyes’ attention.
It all started when his wife, Rose, was
knocking on doors in San Antonio’s
Southtown community, connecting
poverty-stricken residents with
helpful services and resources for a
local nonprofit. Robert will never
forget the day he decided to tag along
– mostly to provide protection and
companionship as Rose was going to
start knocking on doors. It was
Halloween 1999.
What he found changed the direction
of his life. He and Rose realized
the elderly poor were the most appreciative
of their efforts and the most
desperately needy.
“An elderly person doesn’t want
you to leave,” Robert says. “They just
want you to talk to them. After that
Halloween day, something happened
in the heavenlies. I said, ‘I can do
this!’” Robert exclaims. Instead of
playing golf, Robert found himself
heading to the neglected neighborhoods
west of King William on
weekends and after work to visit an
ever-increasing number of homes.
“They captured me, they mentored
me, they ministered to me,” he says.
“This is who God called us to touch.
Now all I want to do is help, serve
and make a difference.”
What started as visits to a few
destitute seniors broadened to
providing care for dozens of disadvantaged
elderly living in San
Antonio’s poorest zip codes. In 2011,
the Reyeses completed the 501(c)(3)
paperwork to officially begin King’s
Compassion ministry, which
provides practical help like mowing
Rose helps one of the elderly served by
King’s Compassion celebrate a birthday.
grass, performing home repairs,
delivering food, clothing and toiletries
and providing companionship to
those over 70 whose income falls
below the poverty line.
Their ministry is named King’s
Compassion because of two plays on
the word King. Their last name,
Reyes, means kings in Spanish. The
King also refers to King Jesus.
The kingdom, so to speak, keeps
expanding. In the past year, they
delivered 1,000 bags of groceries,
soap, paper goods, and toiletries in
more than 500 personal visits.
Volunteers raked 300 bags of leaves,
mowed 150 lawns and made 100
minor home repairs.
Every summer, King’s Compassion
marshals a small army of volunteers
to paint the exterior of a client’s
home – six so far. One recipient,
Esther, told Robert she wanted her
mobile home to be painted so she
could be ready for her departure (to
her heavenly home).
King’s Compassion also distributes
food on the first Saturday of the
month, including deliveries to several
elderly homeless people not served
elsewhere.
The Reyeses have been told, “You are
my angel! You do more than my family
does,” Robert says. “They consider us
their family,” Rose adds. “When I see
Volunteers working with King’s Compassion
paint a house for one of their elderly clients.
The ministry has painted six houses so far.
Rose and
Robert treat
the elderly
served
by King’s
Compassion
as if they
were their
own family
members –
even taking
them to
doctors’ visits
or helping
complete
paperwork.
“ Part of our mission at Pride Floors and Construction is
to give back and bless ministry efforts in our community
that we are passionate about and align with. This is
true regarding King’s Compassion. The elderly in our
community are often forgotten. I have seen Robert and
Rose walk out their calling for many years and have
firsthand knowledge of their servant hearts
towards the elderly and the difference they
are making. I encourage you to support and
partner with King’s Compassion.“ Richard Cavazos,
President Pride Floors and Construction, LLC.
18 www.saBeacon.com March / April 2019