A Family Tradition | Snake Salvation

in this small Church in Eastern Kentucky
pastor Jamie coots and his family are
maintaining an over 100 year old
tradition the handling of deadly snakes
in the name of God
pastor Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus
name Church in Middlesboro Kentucky
I’ve been pastor since 1994
and the church was built and found in my
grandpa Billy
[Music]
the medes as much a commandment from God
when he said they shall take up serpents
as it was attend commands when he said
thou shalt not commit adultery snake
handlers belong to a subset of
Pentecostalism sometimes called the
holiness faith followers like the coots
family believe that once they feel God’s
anointment overtaking them they are
protected from venomous snakes when you
handle serpents it’s one of the best
feelings I’ve ever felt in my life
it’s like a peace and a calm and a
happiness it’s such a happiness and a
joy you can just feel the joy in your
soul that you just don’t feel all the
time every day so strong is pastor
Jamie’s faith in God’s protection
he won’t seek medical attention if
bitten instead he prays I lost his
finger to a serpent bath you know I mean
the fanger rotted probably quarter-inch
of bone that was exposed my finger
actually broke off well then they ends
up telling me that you know she wants to
keep it I said why
she wants that I always have a piece of
you no matter where you go and that’s
been 14 year ago never sought medical
teaching because when I first started in
church I said if I ever went to a
hospital or a doctor over snake man I
would quit Church