ON TV
“Duck Dynasty,” 10 p.m. Wednesdays (starting June 11), A&E
EVENT PREVIEW
Change a Life Festival
3-9:30 p.m. June 22. Free. Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. N.W., Atlanta. ChristianRetailShow.com/ChangeALife.
“Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson, whose comments to a magazine kicked off controversy and led to a brief suspension, will be in Atlanta for the Change a Life Festival, 3-9:30 p.m. June 22 at the Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C. The event is hosted by the International Christian Retail Show.
“We will have plenty of family-friendly entertainment and will celebrate a day filled with praise, worship and joy all for a good cause,” Curtis Riskey, president of the Association for Christian Retail, said in a statement.
The event will include appearances by VeggieTales characters, the Peter Furler Band, Aaron Shust, the JJ Weeks Band, comedians Anita Renfroe and Torry Martin and teen artist Abigail Duhon, who appeared in the movie “God’s Not Dead.” Author and pastor Kyle Idleman will lead a worship service at 6 p.m., and Christian pop duo For King & Country will perform.
Organizers will collect canned and nonperishable food items to benefit the Buckhead Christian Ministry.
“We deeply appreciate the support from Change a Life Festival,” Helen Cunningham, executive director for Buckhead Christian Ministry, said in a statement. “In the summer, many school-age kids are home and not benefiting from lunch programs.”
Phil Robertson touched off controversy in December when he paraphrased 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, during an interview with GQ magazine: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God.”
In response, a GLAAD statement said, “Phil’s lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe,” and the network announced a suspension. Following a surge of fan support, A&E reversed its decision.
The new season of “Duck Dynasty” will premiere at 10 p.m. June 11 on A&E.
Atlanta and Georgia are frequent stops on the “Duck Dynasty” itinerary. Jep Robertson was here in December for a charity 5K race, and his wife, Jessica, appeared at a Savannah conference in February. Missy Robertson, who is married to Jase Robertson, was in Atlanta promoting her new fashion line in January.
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