Welcome back to scary animal attacks!
Today’s episode takes us to Altha, Florida to a big tent revival!
The area is humid and sunny as nearly all of Florida is year round.
The location of the revival was at an abandoned black smiths shop and was filled to capacity
with around 100 people.
The worship was lively and rockous, as most Penecostal worship services are.
The head preacher was quite the dare daredevil and was hoping to grow his congregation's
faith.
George Hensely was born in 1881 and on July 25th of 1955 was around 74 years old and as
vibrant as ever.
He loved to preach loudly and charismatically to anyone who would listen.
He was a native of Appalachia and toured the southern United States preaching, healing
and praying with people.
He preached the Word of God even though he couldn’t read.
George preached holiness but had a hard time holding down a job and was known to drink
too much and get into fights.
His wives seemed to be able to be with him for a short time as he had four of them too.
George had a few run-ins with the law that all centered around alcohol.
He didn't stick around though to complete his jail terms, as he would skip town and
go back to preaching at revival services.
One central doctrine of George’s ministry was based on a verse from the book of Gospel
of Mark (Mark 16:17–18, KJV): "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name ... They shall take up serpents" which is what leads us in our episode today.
Snake handling was illegal in many areas of the South as it was also a popular practice
to some churches, but it was a central part of George’s preaching.
The afternoon in question, George delivered a powerful word on faith.
He had brought something with him today as it was the last of a three week preaching
campaign.
Inside of a lard can George had brought with him a 5 foot long snake, but it was no watersnake.
This was a Timber Rattler!
A big one too!
George reached inside the lard can and slowly pulled the big snake out.
As the man showed the snake around the church so everyone could see it, he held it and preached
about taking up serpents and how it was a demonstration of faith.
George took the snake by the head and tail and draped it across his shoulders and danced
around demonstrating his bravery and trust in the Almighty that he would not die from
a bite.
As he danced and moved the snake around his body George took the snake by the head and
placed it directly in front of his own.
He moved the rattlesnake all over his face to demonstrate to the congregation that it
would not bite him due to his faith.
Keep in mind, this was without grasping the serpent behind the head as most snake handlers
do.
The snake was simply lifted by the middle part of its body so that it could look around
and move where it wanted to.
George proceeded to walk around the room with the rattlesnake draped over his shoulders,
sometimes dancing, and sometimes simply preaching and bellowing out directives on faith.
He walked back and forth across the stage and to the front and rear and sides of the
congregation as they watched in awe as the snake did not bite George.
As one final act of faith George rubbed the snake's body and face all over his own face
and draped it over his shoulders again.
Finally, he decided to return the rattlesnake to the lard can and bring his lesson on faith
to a close.
George gently grasped the serpents body and began leading it into the can opening and
was at a point where he would have to release his grip on the snake's neck to guide the
tail end into the can.
As he released it with his right hand the snake coiled up and struck him on the wrist.
Now, this was not the first time Geore had been bitten.
He claimed that he had been bitten 400 times before this bite but had always been healed
by faith.
It turns out the 401st bite was going a little differently.
George quickly became obviously ill and was experiencing extreme pain and discomfort.
He began demonstrating some of the common symptoms of rattlesnake bite.
His pain caused him to gasp and wince and the burning and tingling in his wrist added
to the discomfort.
His arm soon began changing colors.
It turned bluish in color for nearly the entire length of his arm, as the bite apparently
struck a blood vessel circulating the venom through his body quickly.
The arm also began swelling and became somewhat disfigured from the effects of the venom.
In just a few minutes George began vomiting blood and wretching on the ground.
Service attendees wanted to take him to get medical help and save his life, but George
refused as he winced in pain.
George even pointed out that if the congregation had more faith he wouldn’t have been bitten.
George’s wife Sally stated that she believed the bite and suffering he was going through
was God's will.
George suffered through that night and died early the following morning.
George’s death was ruled a suicide which is a serious sin in nearly all Christian denominations.
A country music band played at his funeral which happened two days after his last sermon.
At his funeral many of the congregants declared their devotion to handling snakes and Sally
took up his mantle to preach the benefits of snake handling.
She said that the event hadn’t caused her to lose an ounce of faith.
Today George Hensley is credited with spreading the pentecostal practice of snake handling
throughout the southern US.
George was a faith filled preacher but his illiteracy betrayed him as he apparently didn’t
read Deuteronomy 6:16: "You shall not tempt the LORD your God”.
There is nothing stated as to what happened to the snake that bit and killed George Hensley.