Today
A Kentucky pastor who starred in a reality show about handling snakes during church services, died Saturday night after a fatal snake bite.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/reality-show-snake-handling-pastor-dies-snake-bite-n31666
Pastor Gregory Jamie Coots — the star of the National Geographic Channel’s “Snake Salvation” — died at Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro, Ky., after suffering a snake bite to his finger, Middlesboro police spokeswoman Jeannie Miller told NBC News on Sunday.
Coots was bitten at the church at 8:30 p.m. but died at his home two hours later, after refusing medical treatment “because of religious beliefs,” Miller said.
She said the animal was believed to be a rattlesnake.
Handling snakes is practiced by a handful of fundamentalist churches, based on an interpretation of certain Bible verses that say true Christians should be able to handle serpents without being harmed.
National Geographic’s senior vice president of communications, Chris Albert, said the channel had no plans for another season of “Snake Salvation.”
“However, we hope to air a special tribute so people can understand Pastor Jamie and his method of worship and see that he died doing what he believed was his calling,” Albert said.
Snake-Handling Christians to Star in 'Snake Salvation' Reality Show ~ http://www.christianpost.com/news/snake-handling-christians-to-star-in-snake-salvation-reality-show-101826/
Pastor Jamie Coots of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name church of Middlesboro, Ky., holds a snake.