Snake-Handling Pastor Dies After Fatal Bite
- Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:40pm by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
Snake-handling pastors aren’t common, but they’re still out there, actively engaging fatal serpents. Today, news spread that Pastor Mack Wolford died on Sunday after suffering a fatal bite from a snake he had owned and handled for years. The 44-year-old Pentecostal pastor, who was based in West Virginia, was well-known in the faith sphere.
What started out as a pre-planned outdoor service on Sunday afternoon at Panther Wildlife Management Area in Bluefield, West Virginia, quickly turned into something more sinister. About 30 minutes into the event, his sister claims that Wolford passed a yellow timber rattlesnake to a church member and his mother. When he laid it on the ground, it bit his thigh.
The service came to a halt not long after and Wolford was taken to a relative’s home to recover. This apparently wasn’t his first snake bite, so his family expected him to simply recover as he has on other occasions. But this time the situation was very different and he passed away later on that evening.
The Washington Post has more about Wolford and the reasons why he has continued the dangerous practice of snake-handling:
Mark Randall “Mack” Wolford was known all over Appalachia as a daring man of conviction. He believed that the Bible mandates that Christians handle serpents to test their faith in God — and that, if they are bitten, they trust in God alone to heal them.
He and other adherents cited Mark 16:17-18 as the reason for their practice: “And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Prior to the event, the Post claims that Wolford has posted numerous messages in support of the even, praising his snake-handling practices. On May 22, he wrote, “I am looking for a great time this Sunday. 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.”
Pastor Pastor Mack Wolford (Image Credit: Washington Post)
He followed this message up with other comments the following day, writing, “Praise the Lord and pass the rattlesnakes, brother.”
Here’s the ironic part: Wolford’s father died in 1983 from the very same thing. Following his tragic death, his son decided to continue participating in the process. Below, see him describe snake handling:
The Post continues:
“I am looking for a great time this Sunday,” he wrote May 22. “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.”
“Praise the Lord and pass the rattlesnakes, brother” he wrote on May 23. He also invited his extended family, who had largely given up the practice of serpent handling, to come to the park.
You can read more about Wolford and his family here.
(H/T: Washington Post)
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 585 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 413 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 374 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 368 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 413 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 368 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (106)
gbfreak
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:53pmTempting God….not the right thing to do.
Report Post »KOCHLEFFEL
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:59pmI am sure the snake was God.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:24pmOne less dummkopf !
Report Post »imfrzn
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:51pmAll of this born from Paul’s account of warming himself by a fire, gets bitten and winds up shaking the snake off into the fire without ill effect. The difference is that Paul was just being obedient to accomplishing God’s will. Who knows, he might have even wished he could be doing something else?? The point is he wasn’t holy rollin in the aisles, speakin in tongues, Holy Spirit hoopin and hollerin! The former is genuine the latter is a show as played out by the dead pastor. America’s answer to our problems is revival… period. It’s starts with the acknowledgment and repentance for forsaking God and begging Him to forgive and restore us. BTW, we have snake shows everyday on the floor of congress that are just as deadly.
Report Post »jwt
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 9:12pmamen
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 10:03pmThere are 4 Gospels… alike 4 Heads; alike 4 Horsemen… where at lease 2 must Agree, in order for it to become a Matter of Faith!
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:16pmThis too is freedom of religion..I won’t criticize this man for his beliefs,the risks he takes does no harm to others..he obviously understood the risk to himself after his fathers death..
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:28pmI don’t see a lot of difference between what he does,compared to people who do extreme sports like skydiving,base jumping or rock climbing, they all have an element of risk…Got to love Americans for the diversity,I admire people like them,,but for me fishing is plenty exciting
Report Post »Marine 1
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 3:54amThe season for the lion to be gently with the lamb is not yet. Nature reveres GOD but not man for obvious reasons. People are free to practice their religion within reason but it was foolish of this man to think that nature is ready to equate man to GOD.
Wisdom, at this time, dictates that man should leave poisonous snakes and other dangerous animals alone as they will kill you. How long do you think anyone would last if thrust into a pride of lions without the faith and stature of Daniel and GOD’s will? There is a big difference between being intelligent, truly faithful, and wise and being unwise and very foolish.
Maybe that’s why Lucifer will tell you nine truthful things just to trip you up on the tenth lie. It will kill you in the end.
I’ll wait to handle snakes until the Savior makes things right. Until then, we will have mutual repsect for one another.
By the way, I grew up on a ranch in New Mexico and have had my fair share of encounters with rattlesnakes. Many close calls. Never once did I desire to pick one up until it was dead and I was skinning it to have it for dinner. Fried rattlesnake is good. We often ate it with rabbit as well.
Never thought about using a live rattlesnake for a religious ceremony. Tempting fate in my book.
Just saying…
Report Post »Eff the Poor
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 9:09amIt‘s George Bush’s fault!
Report Post »rs102156
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 1:11pmIt’s one thing to believe God will protect you or save you in time of trouble. It is another thing to tempt God.
Report Post »Matthew 4,7: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Jesus said to Lucifer after fasting for forty days and nights. Lucifer quoted scripture that angels would protect him even if he threw himself off a cliff. “Least you strike your foot against a stone.”
Believeing God will save you after you put yourself in harms way for no reason is tempting God.
LastCallForEmpathy
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:39pmHis father dies from a bite and this guy rejects the warning… I lack the words to describe the insanity of the world in which i live…
Report Post »cmonnow
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:30pmit‘s Obama’s fault, right…??
Report Post »LastCallForEmpathy
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:42pmYour reply is just further proof that meaningful discussions these days are few and far between…
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 2:45amSnake charmers in India have the sense to get the venom glands removed from the cobras.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:32amThe mis-placed faith in God, is the cause. I am sure that in this mans mind he was as safe as he could be. Most religious folks have the same faith in their God, but fear of being wrong keeps them from jumping out like a superman doing stupid things. Most are content to quote scripture and take comfort that they are more rightous that the next guy; and leave it at that. His faith did not save him.
Report Post »JAMACAMECRAZYMAN
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:33pmWhy not play Russian roulette…………….
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:29pmWhat an incredilbly stupid thing to do . . . from verses that aren’t in earliest manuscripts, thus having unknown origins. Plus if it WERE supposed to be in there, it would tend to be in contradiction with “not putting god to the test”.
Too bad for his family and friends.
Report Post »SurhanSurhan
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:21pm@ DEAVONREYE- This entire passage has been thrown out of the Bible:
Mark 16:9-20: Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They 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.
19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the….
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:55pmIt’s origins are much earlier. There exists a figurine from Mesopotamia that illustrates a goddess with snakes in her hands. It was also a feature of the oracle of the Pythian priestesses of Delphi to hold serpents while relating prophecy for the Greeks.
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 2:45pmShe was a Minoan “Snake Goddess”.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:26pmWhat is there to say? Hope GOD welcomed him.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:42pmI understand “they” believe God will heal them if bitten by a serpent, however, I also read in the bible,
“Do not tempt the Lord, thy God” .. . so….. I believe if bitten by mistake, the Lord may heal that person, but to make a game of it and “tempt” the inevitable might be an entirely different story.
He had faith, but misdirected obviously. Sorry for his family.
Report Post »Nanner-SW
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:23pmI have seen the Lord do great and miraculous things, but for some reason the phrase ‘don’t temp the Lord’ just keeps repeating in my head over and over every time I watch these guys.
Report Post »thibx
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:22pmJesus was talking about fighting the demons of hell that roam this world, not handling a snake. i hope he does not have a son or grandson.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:13pmThere are other snake pastors?
Note to others: Handle garter snakes.
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:13pmI got nothing to say.
Report Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:13pmDo you think any of the fellow cult members prayed for his recovery? How did that work out for him?
Report Post »DAJ
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:12pmMess w/ the bull and you get the horns!
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:10pmMiter been better off, drinkin‘ shine stead’r cursing it.
Report Post »Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:07pmStupid!
Report Post »burnbabylon
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:06pmThat kind of snake can’t read. Watch out for the bipedal serpents with venom coming out in their speech. It’s an election year.
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:03pmTempt the Lord God Almighty at your own risk. People such as this give rationally-thinking Christians a bad name. May your soul rest in peace, Mack Wolford, and may your congregation be turned away from this foolish & deadly practice that ultimately proves NOTHING.
Report Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:10pmGod had nothing to do with it. The idiot carelessly handled a venomous reptile, got bit and died. He can thank religion and his blind faith for his untimely fate and blame his lack of reason and common sense.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:12pmwell put.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:15pmStu D. Baker-Hawk,
Well put.
Report Post »Tonto Lebowski
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:30pmWould you let a snake bite you if you knew you would go to Heaven?
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:41pmIt’s all a game, like telling someone, my momma is prettier than your momma, I have more candy than you have, ha ha, I have more faith than any of you warming the pew. ooch! Read you Bibles
Report Post »ToddH
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:03amThis is something that reminds me of the questions I asked my very religious mother:
Report Post »1) Would you hurt somebody if God told you to do it?
2) Would you kill somebody if God told you to do it?
3) Would you kill yourself if God told you to do it?
There is believing in God,
which is the mainstream going to church, singing the hymns, meeting a greeting your friends and neighbors and generally going through all of the motions in believing,
and then there is BELIEVING in God,
meaning: no matter how crazy the whispers of the Holy Ghost are, you follow them.
The second kind of faith is called schizophrenia.
dimbulbz
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:58pmAn evil and adulterous nation seeks after a sign. Snakes are what they are, ignorance is what it is.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:57pm.
Report Post »Is the snake OK?………
Cosmos102
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:04pmLOL. I was just going to say “good”, but I like your response better.
Report Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:11pmI’d like to know if the snake said anything?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:37pmSnake .. “he..sssss tastes..ssss like..sssss chicken..sssssss”
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:54pmDidn’t Jesus Christ indicate we should not put God to the test?
Report Post »Will He protect us if we deliberately do stupid things?
jedi.kep
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:54pmSTUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You stupid foolish Christian. What a horrible thing to die from stupidity! The Bible told you to RENEW your mind…not REMOVE your mind!!! I’m glad you made it to Heaven, but when I get there I’m going to Gibbs slap you.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:49pmUuhh, yeah.
Why are some people so stupid? Playing with rattlesnakes is not an intelligent thing to do.
Report Post »karen162
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:49pmI guess that’s what happens when you think God performs for you on demand.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:49pmWell, that bites.
Report Post »mtcountrygrl
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:18pmLOL. Thanks for that
Report Post »BeingThere
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:48pmI only handle one snake and it’s not a reptile. I really think the “religion of love” should take up snake handling!! LOL
Report Post »karen162
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:47pmOoopppsss…
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:42pmDarwin award winner, 2012?
Report Post »Zer0
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:48pmHe’s got my vote!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:49pmAgree ;-) one more down. btw .. I HATE snakes.
Report Post »