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.

License suspended when carjacked

Marvin Winans’ driver’s license was suspended and there was a warrant out for his arrest in Detroit when he was carjacked last week, according to the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press. The singer and pastor had his license suspended two weeks ago (May 9) because he didn't pay a couple of traffic tickets from December. The arrest warrant was issued March 15 for failing to appear at court for driving on a suspended license.

Jeff Foxworthy's New Show

CNN takes a look at a new TV show hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy called American Bible Challenge.

Protest against NC Church Planned Sunday

A North Carolina county has reversed itself and agreed to allow a protest against a local pastor on county property this coming Sunday morning. Catawba County officials first denied the request for a demonstration against the preacher's anti-gay sermon. Charles Worley of Providence Baptist Church in Maiden recently told his congregation that gays should be put behind electrified fences. A video of the sermon (below) went viral and now the number of potential protestors has swelled into the hundreds. Organizers asked to move it from the church to the grounds of the Catawba County Justice Center, located a few miles away in Newton. But the county requires such requests two weeks in advance, so it was initially turned down. After constitutional law experts suggested such a rule would not hold up in court and be declared as unduly burdensome and an intrusion on the rights of peaceable assembly, county officials backed down. Southern Baptists in the state have stressed to the media that Providence Road is an independent Baptist church, not affiliated with the denomination. A video of part of the sermon is below.

Backlash over Sermon

CNN discusses a North Carolina pastor's rant against gays in the video below.

Birth Control Mandate

Three Catholic Universities are joining a lawsuit to block mandate on contraceptive insurance. Fox News has a video report below.

Pastor's Plan to "get rid" of Gays

Part of a sermon from a North Carolina pastor has gone viral. In the sermon, Charles Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden (north of Charlotte) explains how he wants to "get rid" of homosexuals - by putting them in an electrified fence. The video is below.

Madden 2013 includes Tebowing

EA Sports is adding the famous prayer stance of Tim Tebow to its popular football video game Madden 2013. Tebow made the move famous as a Denver Bronco, but he's been traded to the New York Jets and will be shown with the Jets in Madden 2013 which is due to hit store shelves in August.

Movie about the Mother of Jesus

Filming of Joel Osteen's first film begins this summer in the Middle East. The megachurch pastor will play executive producer for the Biblical prequel to the story of The Passion of Christ. Odeya Rush will take the main role in Mary in Mary Mother of Christ. She'll be joined by Julia Ormond and Peter O'Toole. The Alister Grierson film will be distributed in North America by Lionsgate.

Charges in Pastor's Carjacking

Three Detriot men are facing charges they carjacked and asaulted singer and megachurch pastor Marvin Winans. WXYZ-TV files this video report.

Tebow looks to stop Jesus T-shirt maker

Tim Tebow has told a t-shirt manufacturer to stop using his name in promotion of a t-shirt. CubbyTees.com is selling the shirt that says My Jesus on the front in the style of the Jets logo. A fish is used instead of a football. Among other things, the ad says the New York Jets quarterback is “not just looking to cure lepers, but heal Gang Green! This shirt should fit Tebow followers to a tee.”

Baptist State Convention Found Liable

A jury says the Florida Baptist Convention is liable for what a former pastor did. Douglas Myers plead guilty to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in Eustis at the Triangle Community Church where he served as pastor. The jury decided the state convention didn't properly investigate Douglas before giving him grant funds. He was accused of sexual abuse at churches in Maryland and Alabama before moving to Florida. Douglas is now serving a 7 year sentence for the crime. The church and another he started have been shut down.

Satanic Symbols Put on Churches

A homeless California man is accused of putting Satanic graffiti on two downtown churches - Church of the Incarnation and St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church. Kyle Eric Schaller is now in the Sonoma County Jail on charges of felony vandalism. Damages are estimated at more than $4000.

Singer-Pastor Carjacked

A group of men carjacked Gospel singer and megachurch pastor Marvin Winans at a gas station in Detroit. The mid-afternoon attack left Winans without money or his SUV and with minor injuries. Winans was in the news earlier this year when he gave singer Whitney Houston’s eulogy. The city is facing increasing problems with crime. Just a few days ago a former police chief was robbed and assaulted as he mowed his lawn. Here's a WXYZ-TV interview with Winans.

Fest calls it Quits

One of the biggest Christian Rock festivals is shutting down. The Cornerstone Festival has taken place every summer since 1984 in Illinois. The organization behind the gathering says this upcoming one set for early July will be the last, due to financial concerns. For more information click here.

One Survivor from Plane Crash

Here's an interview on NBC's Today show with Ron Luce, president of Teen Mania Ministries and father of the sole survivor of a small plane crash in Kansas that took the lives of everyone else on board. All five people on the plane had connections to Oral Roberts University.

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