7 News Spotlight | The Strange and Lethal World of Snake Preachers @7newsSpotlight | Uploaded August 2023 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
Inside this secret cult-like religion, in bizarre renegade churches, worshippers believe in a superpower. They are convinced the Bible has commanded them to hold deadly snakes. Every sermon could very quickly become their last.
If bitten by the poisonous creature, they refuse hospital treatment, believing God will decide their fate. It’s an ancient Pentecostal tradition and one that was dying out – but one young preacher is determined to bring it back. In this incredible story, Sunday Night was granted rare access inside the church so few people ever get to see. We follow Andrew Hamblin as he hunts for snakes, preaches with them, shirks the law and flirts with death at every turn.
In each service, rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths are taken from their wooden boxes as believers cradle them in their arms, press them to their foreheads and dance with them. For the first time, our cameras are inside.
This story originally aired on April 13th, 2013 on Seven News Australia Sunday Night.
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7NEWS combines the trusted and powerful news brands including Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Latest, and 7NEWS.com.au, delivering unique, engaging and continuous coverage on the issues that matter most to Australians. Watch 7NEWS nightly at 6pm and weekdays at 11:30am and 4pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Inside this secret cult-like religion, in bizarre renegade churches, worshippers believe in a superpower. They are convinced the Bible has commanded them to hold deadly snakes. Every sermon could very quickly become their last.
If bitten by the poisonous creature, they refuse hospital treatment, believing God will decide their fate. It’s an ancient Pentecostal tradition and one that was dying out – but one young preacher is determined to bring it back. In this incredible story, Sunday Night was granted rare access inside the church so few people ever get to see. We follow Andrew Hamblin as he hunts for snakes, preaches with them, shirks the law and flirts with death at every turn.
In each service, rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths are taken from their wooden boxes as believers cradle them in their arms, press them to their foreheads and dance with them. For the first time, our cameras are inside.
This story originally aired on April 13th, 2013 on Seven News Australia Sunday Night.
Subscribe to 7NEWS Spotlight for the latest video » 7news.link/SpotlightSubscribe
Connect with 7NEWS Spotlight online
Visit » https://7news.com.au/spotlight
7NEWS Spotlight Podcast » http://smarturl.it/7NewsSpotlight
Facebook » facebook.com/7newsSpotlight
Twitter » twitter.com/7newsSpotlight
Instagram » instagram.com/7newsSpotlight
7NEWS combines the trusted and powerful news brands including Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Latest, and 7NEWS.com.au, delivering unique, engaging and continuous coverage on the issues that matter most to Australians. Watch 7NEWS nightly at 6pm and weekdays at 11:30am and 4pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
