Snake Handler Dies

A snake-handling, West Virginia pastor died Sunday from the bites of a rattle snake. Mack Wolford was pastor at the Full Gospel Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus in Matoaka. Wolford’s father died the same way when he was a teenager. Wolford had been bitten at least three other times without seeking medical attention. Some states have outlawed the practice. Jim Murphy, curator of the Reptile Discovery Center at the National Zoo, told the Washington Post last year that the pain from such a bite would be "excruciating" because "The venom attacks the nervous system. It's vicious and gruesome when it hits." Here's a trailer of a video about Wolford that was in the works when he died.

Protests in NC

CNN reports on the North Carolina pastor who sparked protests with his comments about gays.

Billboard on Gay Marriage

San Diego's Missiongathering Christian Church says it will pay $3000 billboard in Charlotte, North Carolina near Billy Graham Parkway apologizing to gays for a state amendment, passed earlier this month, defining marriage as only between a man and woman. The message on the billboard:

"Missiongathering Christian Church is sorry for the narrow-minded, judgmental, deceptive, manipulative actions of those who DENIED rights and equality TO so many in the Name of God."

Church reacts to Embattled Pastor

The congregation of North Carolina's Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden gave their pastor a standing ovation this morning. Charles Worley had stirred protests after a sermon of his about gays went viral. He said:

“I figured a way out, a way to get rid of all the lesbians and queers but I couldn’t get it pass the Congress – build a great big large fence, 50 or a hundred mile long. Put all the lesbians in there, fly over and drop some food. Do the same thing with the queers and the homosexuals. And have that fence electrified so they can’t get out."

Many Evangelical leaders have condemned Worley's remarks. Below is a video of the 1000 or so demonstrators who gathered in opposition to Worley today.

Attempt to Burn down NC Church

Someone made tried to burn down the church in North Carolina where a pastor has caused a stir with a sermon about gays. Charles Worley of Maiden's Providence Baptist Church recently told his congregation that gays should be put behind electrified fences. A video of the sermon went viral and protesters decided to gather nearby today. The sheriff of Catawba County says power lines and a power box outside the church were damaged last night. While thousands were expected to attend the rally against the pastor, a group from Primrose, Georgia said they would attend the church's services in support of Worley. He hasn't spoken to the news media about the controversy.