Several of the Robertson wives participated in a Q-and-A session as part of "Duck Commander Missions Sunday" at Whites Ferry Road (WFR) Church this past weekend.
Miss Kay, Jessica, Missy, and Lisa Robertson participated in a question-and-answer session hosted by Alan Robertson and WFR Church pastor Mike Kellett as part of "Duck Commander Missions Sunday," just after "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson preached at the morning service. The Robertsons regularly attend Whites Ferry Road Church in West Monroe, LA, where Phil and Alan are elders. The church will often host "Duck Commander Sunday," where the congregation is encouraged to dress in camouflage and the Robertson men are given the opportunity to preach.
This Sunday was special in that the entire weekend's offering would be donated toward missions. "We have many opportunities to preach the Gospel around the world ... All contributions given on Duck Commander Sunday will be designated to help with our Mission Efforts," the WFR Church website reads. Willie's wife Kori was unable to participate in the event as she is currently on a mission trip to Ethiopia.
"We wanted you to see the kinder, softer, gentler side of who we are," Alan joked, referring to his father Phil's bold preaching style just before the women's Q-and-A session. He and Pastor Mike Kellett asked the Duck Commander women several questions about missions and about how their family has been able to handle the fame of "Duck Dynasty." The following are highlights of some questions and the women's responses:
Q: What has been the best thing about the fame that "Duck Dynasty" has brought the Robertson family?
A: "It has just been such a blessing ... being able to share Jesus' love to all the people," Miss Kay says - "People that really want you to share with them ... They want you to give them the hope that we have in Jesus."
Missy agrees, and says it has been encouraging to see what God's plan has been for their family. "We hear from so many people around the country ... and even around the world, [who] say how much they appreciate our shows and the Christian principles that it portrays," she says.
The Robertsons had prayed that the editors of "Duck Dynasty" would not remove the Christian aspect of the show, and are very grateful that A&E has been willing to include many of their family's Christian principles in the show - like the prayer before the family meal at the end of each episode. "That's not been done in a really, really, really long time [on television]," Missy says.
God has put the Robertson family's lifestyle on the air through A&E, and the family hopes that God will be glorified through them - "All of the glory goes to God ... so hopefully we can shine a light for Him to many people. That's been the best part for me, personally," says Missy.
Jessica and Jep are more introverted than their brothers and sister-in-laws, and never imagined that they would be sharing their testimonies with large crowds of people. "Knowing that I get to share a lot of Christ with other people - that's probably the biggest blessing ... that's why God gave us this platform," says Jessica.
Q: What has been the worst part about the fame that "Duck Dynasty" has brought to the family?
A: "The time - it's hard to juggle time, being a Mom of four young kids," Jessica says - "[I'm often] feeling like I'm pulled in a hundred different directions." Jessica and Jep were thankful to not have appeared on "Duck Dynasty" as often in the first few seasons of the show when their son River was only two years old. "Without [the church family's support] ... without a wonderful husband, I couldn't do it," she says.
Q: What sort of spiritual challenges has the fame brought?
A: Miss Kay laments that the Robertsons often have to leave soon after sharing Christ with large crowds of people, and they miss out on talking more intimately with those who respond to the Gospel message. Miss Kay would love to get to meet them and tell them all that they have to look forward to in Christ, she says - "We're here, we're there, we're on the road ... that part is really hard to leave - somebody you want to respond to so bad, but you're talking to masses of people."
Q: How have missions touched you personally?
A: Because Missy's father was a preacher on staff at WFR Church, her family would often do domestic missions work. "I learned at a very young age to be missions-minded in order to influence people for Jesus Christ," she says. She grew up knocking on doors, bringing people food, and doing service projects all over the United States. Her favorite overseas trips have been to the Dominican Republic, where she has been able to establish relationships with impoverished children and the church there. Having gone a few times, Missy has been blessed to see many children thrive physically and learn more about the Lord.
Q: What has your personal experience been with sending missionaries to the field?
A: Miss Kay believes that the most rewarding thing about sending missionaries is getting to see how the mission trip can change peoples' lives. "The reward and the joy you find when they come back and tell you everything that they did ... to know that you've got hands on the ground that you sent, that can [fill] your place when you can't go ... it changes their lives," she says.
Sending people to do the Lord's work can really help you to reevaluate your spending habits, too, Lisa says. For instance, money which once would have been spent on an enticing new pair of shoes might be instead donated toward missions after seeing the fruit that sending missionaries can bring.
Miss Kay encourages the church to do Bible studies with their children and to teach them to pray for people in other countries around the world. Help them to save their money and to give toward missions, she says - "To know that they can be part of giving to [missions], even if it's just small amounts - but it's what they have that they can help somebody in another country learn about Jesus."
She also wants to remind the church that while many Americans enjoy relative comforts and safety at home, missionaries give up these things to tell others about Jesus in impoverished countries. "We need to not forget that," says Miss Kay - "And not forget to teach our children and our grandchildren about that."
Alan then asked for prayer for the Lord's protection and for the Robertson family to be fruitful witnesses for Christ while they are in the "Duck Dynasty" spotlight.
