 In 1943 , Raymond Hayes , a young adherent of Hensley 's teachings , arrived in the Ooltewah area and began successfully preaching about snake handling . Hensley and Hayes started a church together in 1945 , which they named the " Dolly Pond Church of God with Signs Following " . Later in 1945 , a member of the church was bitten by a snake and died . The members of the church continued to handle snakes at services , including at the funeral of the man who died from snakebite . The man 's death was viewed as ordained by God to test the faith of the congregants , and to demonstrate to non @-@ believers that the snakes they handled were , in fact , dangerous . That year , Hensley was arrested for snake handling in Chattanooga , Tennessee . He was given a $ 50 fine , which he refused to pay even when threatened with a workhouse sentence . He was released after members of his church appealed to authorities . 
