Page 96 - Abilene Living

“I’ve never called anyone. People hear about it, and they’ll call me. I’ve spoken to church youth groups, to adults, to clubs, Kiwanis, that sort of thing. I’ve spoken to churches, to schools right before prom. I’ve spoken to middle school students. I’ve spoken to individuals whose families have called and asked me, ‘Would you come and speak to my family member.’What I do is just share my son’s story and what has happened to us.”

He admits the message is delivered differently according to the age of the audience, but the message is the same. “I always tell the truth and I never hold back anything,” he said. “I let them ask me questions, but of course, if it’s a younger age group, I may not go into as much detail. I’ve even spoken to Shattered Dreams. After kids see this dramatic presentation, then I tell them what happened to my son. Zach always told us, ‘This won’t happen to me.’ But it can and I share that with them when I talk to them.”

He said his ministry came about after months of being asked to talk about the accident. It was not something he sought. “I made a promise. I said, ‘God, if you want me to be involved in this, have them call me,’” he related. “I’ve spoken in the Metroplex - everywhere. I tell them how Zach’s life changed and how he was going out on a weekend and partying and how that cost him his life. Not only that, but how it affected the rest of us. I can tell them that frsthand. It’s a passion I have now.”

One thing Robinson insists upon during his presentation is honesty. When he suggests underage drinkers call their parents for a ride home if they are impaired, he is straight about the consequences. “You’re going to get into trouble,” he said. “I’m not going to candy coat it, but your parents love you. They’ll come get you. There have been some parents who have called and thanked me after that’s happened. I tell them if you do mess up, if there’s drinking - you’re the one