FULL TITLE: Shocking moment a Kentucky snake-handling preacher is bitten and has to be carried from his church, four years after his pastor father was killed by a rattlesnake This is the startling moment a controversial American pastor, whose father was killed after being bitten by a snake, is himself attacked by a serpent. Cody Coots is the pastor at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus’ Name church in Middlesboro, Kentucky - one of America’s last remaining snake-handling churches. During his sermon, Pastor Coots can be seen handling a snake as he preaches to his congregation.