To celebrate the Fourth of July, the members of the Duck Dynasty Commander Store threw a big party at the Duck Commander in West Monroe with the theme "Faith, Family and Fireworks," replete with a barbeque cook-out, eating contests, and bingo games.
The Robertson family members from the A&E reality show were even present to give a special performance and sign autographs before the fireworks show, much to the delight of the attendees. "It's been awesome," Holly Davis said. "The food's been great, the music's been great and we even went into the store. It's been awesome."
Everybody especially enjoyed Silas Robertson's musical performance, but Davis said the most important thing about the event was gathering for faith. "We gotta come for the faith, the family and the fellowship, and this is why we are here," she added.
Meanwhile, John-David Owen, a member of "Duck Dynasty," told KNOE 8 News that they have always put God first in everything they do. "Our motto at Duck Commander is faith, family, [and] ducks. And so we put God first, family second, and today we're doing fireworks...so faith. family, fireworks," he said.
The family's patriarch Phil earlier revealed in a video for I Am Second that he did not grow up as a Christian, so he had a bad drinking problem and even abused pills.
When a stranger carrying a Bible walked into his bar one day, Phil booted him out without any second thought. "He wanted to introduce me to Jesus," said Phil. "I ran him away."
Phil might have turned his back on Jesus then, but God wasn't giving up on him just yet. After getting involved in a bar brawl one day, Phil had to evade the authorities so he "hid out" in the woods and abandoned his wife and sons for several months.
It was then that Phil realised he had hit rock bottom. "You're all alone. No hope. Miserable. That's when I began to serious[ly] contemplate: 'Is there a way out of all this?'" he said.
Upon the encouragement of his wife Miss Kay, Phil finally agreed to meet with the Christian he once kicked out of his bar. After hearing God's message, Phil gave his life to Christ.
"I didn't even know what the Gospel of Jesus was," he said. After the man explained, Phil wondered, "How in the world did I ever miss that? I had missed it. I was blown away when I heard that Jesus died for me, was buried and raised from the dead. Something so simple, but profound. I had never heard it."
