'Serpent-Handling' West Virginia Pastor Dies From Snake Bite

[gunslingingbird]

A "serpent-handling" West Virginia pastor died after his rattlesnake bit him during a church ritual, just as the man had apparently watched a snake kill his father years before.

Pentecostal pastor Mark Wolford, 44, hosted an outdoor service at the Panther Wildlife Management Area in West Virginia Sunday, which he touted on his Facebook page prior to the event.

"I am looking for a great time this Sunday," Wolford wrote May 22, according to the Washington Post. "It is going to be a homecoming like the old days. Good 'ole raised in the holler or mountain ridge running, Holy Ghost-filled speaking-in-tongues sign believers."

Robin Vanover, Wolford's sister, told the Washington Post that 30 minutes into the outdoor service, Wolford passed around a poisonous timber rattlesnake, which eventually bit him.

"Hallellujah, praise Jesus, for this here fork-tongued devil shall not prevail over the power of the Holy Ghost that protects me! My faith in the Lord is stro- Ow! Shit! I done got bit by the snake! Mary Josephine, call the doctor!"

Yee-haw!!!

Story

 

[Will E Worm]

A bird afraid of a snake. :tongue:

 

[Ravenholm]

Sounds to me like he wanted to dance with the devil. And messing about with rattlesnakes is definitely one way to do that. Some people are just not mentally competent through coming up with ideas like that.

Rattlesnake fact: I read somewhere that these mofos can strike at up to speeds of 167mph. So dodging a rattlesnake strike is EXTREMELY LUCKY if it happens. Well, unless you are Steven Seagal who caught two of them - one in each hand as they tried to bite him.

 

[gunslingingbird]

Rattlesnake fact: I read somewhere that these mofos can strike at up to speeds of 167mph. So dodging a rattlesnake strike is EXTREMELY LUCKY if it happens. Well, unless you are Steven Seagal who caught two of them - one in each hand as they tried to bite him.

Chuck Norris can dodge 4 of them. At the same time. While eating a sandwich.

 

[PirateKing]

You'd think they'd have a stock of anti-venom as a contingency for his lame snake stunts. Maybe he's one of those zealots that doesn't think modern medicine is "Christian".

Whatever. One less idiot.

 

[luis1972]

R.I.P.????
:dunno::dunno::dunno::dunno:

 

[xfire]

I lol'd. What's next? Freeway tag?

 

[lurkingdirk]

You'd think they'd have a stock of anti-venom as a contingency for his lame snake stunts. Maybe he's one of those zealots that doesn't think modern medicine is "Christian".

Whatever. One less idiot.

Having anti-venom on hand would demonstrate a lack of faith. I know it is hard to understand, but if you haven't, you should read the book "Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia," by Dennis Covington. it is an amazing insider's look at the community that still practice snake handling in Christian religious ceremonies. In the bible, Mark 16:17-18 records, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will … pick up snakes with their hands.” That's where this all begins.

 

[TheSpokenWheel]

White folk is crazy.

 

[bahodeme]

Having anti-venom on hand would demonstrate a lack of faith. I know it is hard to understand, but if you haven't, you should read the book "Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia," by Dennis Covington. it is an amazing insider's look at the community that still practice snake handling in Christian religious ceremonies. In the bible, Mark 16:17-18 records, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will … pick up snakes with their hands.” That's where this all begins.

I remember a few shows did something about them years ago. If I remember correctly there were other church members bitten over the years and was thought that prayer would heal them. Well....

 

[D-rock]

I guess it goes to show that gimmicks and religion shouldn't go together.

It also goes to show that assuming God will protect somebody just because that person greatly misinterprets what seems like a metaphorical line in The Bible, or at least take it way of of context, is a pretty poor idea.

 

[DR. B]

Psyduck, doesn't care....