Photos: West Virginia Pentecostal church tests faith with snakes, poison

The House of the Lord Jesus church in Squire, West Virginia is one of the few remaining ones of the Signs denomination, in which worshippers speak in tongues, drink poison, test themselves with fire, and handle serpents as a testimony of their faith. The Pentecostal Signs denomination is still found in the Appalachian Mountains and other parts of the southeastern United States as they continue this century-old tradition, taking their scriptural mandate from the Bible's Gospel of Mark 16: 17-18.

Updated on: Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM IST

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

With old fashioned apostolic gospel music echoing through the small wooden building at the House of the Lord Jesus church, members of the congregation dance and spin in a trance as Pastor Chris Wolford reaches into a box and pulls out a three-foot long timber rattlesnake, a test of faith. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

Swinging the snake Wolford proclaims that God is present, and allows the snake to move around in his hands, before laying it across the lap of a worshipper playing the guitar. The congregation in Squire, West Virginia, in the Appalachian mountains is made up of a few scattered houses and is one of the few remaining Pentecostal Signs churches. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

Serpent-handling Christians believe taking up snakes, as well as drinking poison and applying flames to themselves is something they are commanded to do. They take their scriptural mandate from the Bible’s Gospel of Mark 16: 17-18 (In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all). (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

Pastor Chris Wolford steps on a timber rattlesnake. “Now we don’t believe that they won’t bite us,” Wolford said. “We know every time we go in the box that there may be a chance that we may get bit, and that we may die. But see, when I got saved, when I got in this, he put something in me that, to live for me is for God, and to die is for God.” (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

Thirty to 40 worshippers came from all over West Virginia and nearby states for the special Memorial Day service, in honor of Chris’s brother, Randy “Mack” Wolford, who was the previous pastor but died of a rattlesnake bite, his fourth, on the same weekend in 2012. Their father, too, was a pastor and died of a snake bite when Chris was only young. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

West Virginia is the last remaining state where serpent-handling is legal. According to William Dinges, Ordinary Professor of Religion and Culture at Catholic University, “the act of taking up serpents is not something that is endorsed by any denomination.” Snake handling churches believe in their mandate by way of a literal reading of scriptures. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

Services build like concerts with the music growing into a frenzy of activity with drums, slide guitars, and keyboards telling the congregation when to get to their feet and call out in worship. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

James Bass holds fire to his hand during a Pentecostal serpent handlers service at the House of the Lord Jesus church in Squire, West Virginia. Serpent-handling only plays a small part of the service, some of which last almost four hours. The rest of the time members proclaim their faith, dance; preach, and take communion. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

Robin Brandon drinks strychnine, a poison, as a test of faith during a service. Traditionally kept within the family, many members of the faith are related or closely connected. A few outsiders trickle in and some have become followers as well, but overall it feels like an extended family. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2018 1:03 PM

A bottle of strychnine (C), red wine for communion (L), and olive oil for blessings are seen at a Pentecostal serpent handlers service. There are an estimated 125 serpent-handling churches left. The movement is currently in decline, but it has waxed and waned over its 100 year history, and since the tradition is passed down from one generation to the next, it is likely to stay alive for many years to come. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)