MMC
05-31-2012, 01:19 PM
http://l.yimg.com/dh/ap/ap/default/120530/mark_wolford.jpg
Rattlesnake kills Pentecostal pastor (http://att.my.yahoo.com/_ylt=AsoVLsss0SjDYg9UCWkRZeGmN3wV;_ylu=X3oDMTI0dXE 4cmRjBGNwb3MDMQRpbnRsA3VzBHBrZwNpZC0yMzExMTQ3BHBrZ 3YDMTAEcG9zAzIEc2VjA2F0dHRkLWZlYXQEc2xrA3RpdGxl/RV=1/RE=1338581721/RH=YXR0Lm15LnlhaG9vLmNvbQ--/RO=2/RU=aHR0cDovL25ld3MueWFob28uY29tL3NlcnBlbnQtaGFuZGx pbmctd2VzdC12aXJnaW5pYS1wYXN0b3ItZGllcy1zbmFrZS1ia XRlLTE3MzQwNjY0NS0tYWJjLW5ld3MtdG9wc3Rvcmllcy5odG1 s/RS=^ADA.bNURtRUpQ6K7Zd0jkBzoTnKMb4-)
A test of faith in the West Virginia wilderness turns deadly for a "serpent-handling" church leader.
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.
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.
Jim Shires, owner of the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluefield, told ABC News that Wolford died Monday. Wolford's church, the Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus in Matoaka, will host a viewing Friday and a funeral service Saturday morning. Wolford will be buried at the Hicks Family Plot in Phelps, Ky.
Officials at the Panther Wildlife Management Area had been unaware of Sunday's event until they were notified by callers after the service.
"We did not know that this event was happening, and if we had known about it or if we had been asked for permission, permission would not have been granted," Hoy Murphy, public information officer for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, told ABC News.
While snake-handling is legal in West Virginia, other Appalachian states, including Kentucky and Tennessee, have banned the practice in public spaces.
Snake-handlers point to scripture as evidence that God calls them to engage in such a practice to show their faith in him. Mark 16: 17-18 reads, "And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." .....snip~
What do you think about these guys that want to run around with snakes? Rattlesnacks? Why not something like a Black Mamba? Think they would want to test their beliefs on the Two-Step out of Nam?
He should have thought about playing with my Cuzin the Goddess of Fire.....this way he would have only got burnt. :evil:
Rattlesnake kills Pentecostal pastor (http://att.my.yahoo.com/_ylt=AsoVLsss0SjDYg9UCWkRZeGmN3wV;_ylu=X3oDMTI0dXE 4cmRjBGNwb3MDMQRpbnRsA3VzBHBrZwNpZC0yMzExMTQ3BHBrZ 3YDMTAEcG9zAzIEc2VjA2F0dHRkLWZlYXQEc2xrA3RpdGxl/RV=1/RE=1338581721/RH=YXR0Lm15LnlhaG9vLmNvbQ--/RO=2/RU=aHR0cDovL25ld3MueWFob28uY29tL3NlcnBlbnQtaGFuZGx pbmctd2VzdC12aXJnaW5pYS1wYXN0b3ItZGllcy1zbmFrZS1ia XRlLTE3MzQwNjY0NS0tYWJjLW5ld3MtdG9wc3Rvcmllcy5odG1 s/RS=^ADA.bNURtRUpQ6K7Zd0jkBzoTnKMb4-)
A test of faith in the West Virginia wilderness turns deadly for a "serpent-handling" church leader.
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.
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.
Jim Shires, owner of the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluefield, told ABC News that Wolford died Monday. Wolford's church, the Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus in Matoaka, will host a viewing Friday and a funeral service Saturday morning. Wolford will be buried at the Hicks Family Plot in Phelps, Ky.
Officials at the Panther Wildlife Management Area had been unaware of Sunday's event until they were notified by callers after the service.
"We did not know that this event was happening, and if we had known about it or if we had been asked for permission, permission would not have been granted," Hoy Murphy, public information officer for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, told ABC News.
While snake-handling is legal in West Virginia, other Appalachian states, including Kentucky and Tennessee, have banned the practice in public spaces.
Snake-handlers point to scripture as evidence that God calls them to engage in such a practice to show their faith in him. Mark 16: 17-18 reads, "And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." .....snip~
What do you think about these guys that want to run around with snakes? Rattlesnacks? Why not something like a Black Mamba? Think they would want to test their beliefs on the Two-Step out of Nam?
He should have thought about playing with my Cuzin the Goddess of Fire.....this way he would have only got burnt. :evil: