This Easter weekend locals from the area had the privilege of meeting TV personality Willie Robertson, the CEO of Duck Commander in West Monroe, LA, when he came to share his faith at New Community Church in Muskogee.

Willie was a main figure on the TV reality show “Duck Dynasty” which premiered from 2012 to 2017. The show was a cultural phenomenon that captivated audiences around the world. At the heart of this show was the Robertson family, who made their fortune selling duck calls through their company, Duck Commander. They believed in working hard, playing hard and praying harder.

While speaking to the congregation Sunday, Willie credited his father for his faith in God as he told the story of his dad’s sister, who asked a preacher to go into a bar and speak to her brother about salvation. He said his dad had a gun on his hip and a beer in his hand and even though he didn’t want to hear what the preacher had to say, this preacher’s willingness to go wherever he needed to go was why his dad came to the Lord. Willie said he often wonders where he and his family would be today if his dad hadn’t accepted Christ. However, because his dad did come to Christ, he believed God opened the door to create the platform he stands on today to share the gospel.

“Duck Dynasty” was definitely a show about sharing. It followed the lives of the Robertson family and set “Duck Dynasty” apart with its unique blend of humor, family values, Southern charm and faith. At the helm of the Robertson family was Willie, who is the eldest son of Phil and Kay Robertson. Willie was known for his business keenness and his laid-back personality. As the star of “Duck Dynasty,” Willie played a key role in the success of the show, bringing his humor to every episode.

One of the reasons why “Duck Dynasty” resonated with audiences was probably its focus on family and faith. The Robertson family was a household name back then. Their Uncle Jack was extremely funny with his catchphrases, like “Happy, Happy, Happy” and “Hey, Jack!” Perhaps one of the funniest episodes was Jack making a pool in the bed of his pickup truck.

However it was Willie who truly emerged as a cultural icon of the show with his sharp wit and country charm. The show’s success helped Willie to grow Duck Commander into a multimillion-dollar empire. But beyond his success in business and television, Willie stated his greatest success is his Christian faith and how that faith has changed his whole family.

At the Easter service, Willie spoke about the importance of not just showing up for one hour a week to proclaim your faith, but Christian need to live it the other six days of the week too. He stated that many times pastors get excited about Easter services and how many visitors come that day to church but then he asked, “How many return the next week? That’s the bigger question.” He said as Christians we must not be doing something right if the numbers are declining instead of rising, and that it’s more about relationship than religion.

Though “Duck Dynasty” eventually came to an end after 11 seasons in 2017, the Robertson’s faith and legacy lives on today, and to think it all began because a preacher went into a bar.