After driving 20 hours, young man asks to be water baptized by ‘Duck Dynasty’ star Phil Robertson

Brian Richards lives in New Jersey and earlier this month he travelled to West Monroe, LA, the home town of the Robertson clan of ‘Duck Dynasty’ fame. It took him 20 hours to make the drive.

On arriving, Brian went to White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ (Sunday, March 16, 2014) where the Robertson’s attend church. At the church, he asks to be baptized by the ‘Duck Dynasty’ patriarch, Phil Robertson.

Phil is the father of the Robertson family and founder of Duck Commander, a duck call manufacturer, on which the popular A&E show is based. In December, A&E banished Phil from the program after comments he made about gays, but relented two weeks later because of the massive public backlash to A&E’s decision. Many accused A&E of trying to restrict free speech.

Phil gladly agrees to baptize Brian.

Two video clips of the baptism

In the top video, we see the water baptism, where Phil says to Brian, “you are now going to die to sin. You’re going to be buried — the old you and the new one will come forth. God will seal you with His spirit and you will be guaranteed to be raised from the dead one day and live forever. Good news, you know.”

Phil then baptizes Brian “In the Name of Jesus” fully emersing the young man in the water as practiced by the early church.

The phrase is significant, because during the early ‘Duck Dynasty’ shows, the family noticed the phrase “in Jesus Name” was being edited out of a prayer at the family meal that routinely closes the program. The family complained and the phrase is now included from time-to-time.

When Phil asked why the phrase was being edited out, officials with the show said it was being done so not to offend Muslims.

In the second clip below, Phil introduces Brian saying, “I can count on one hand the people I have met from New Jersey.”