Participation Type
Performance
Presentation #1 Title
Test of Faith
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Pentecostal serpent handlers, also known as Signs Followers, hold a literal interpretation of a verse in the Bible’s Gospel of Mark, which states that true believers shall “take up serpents.” For more than a century, adherents to this Appalachian religious tradition have handled venomous snakes during worship.
Who are the serpent handlers? What does their faith mean to them? A documentary photographer who specializes in religion, I traveled to West Virginia in search of answers. There, I met Pastor Mack Wolford, a Signs Following preacher, and spent the following year photographing Mack and learning about his beliefs. My work changed dramatically in May 2012, when Mack suffered a fatal snakebite during a worship service I attended. I documented the events that followed and have continued my relationship with Mack’s family.
In my performance, I will present my photographs of Mack and his family; I will also discuss the experiences I have shared with the Wolfords and what these have taught me about the photographic process and the tenets of the Signs Following faith – namely, forgiveness and renewal. Lastly, I will explain the process of editing my work into a book, Test of Faith, published by the Duke Center for Documentary Studies in November 2017.
My performance will provide a nuanced, personal look at serpent handling, inviting greater appreciation of an Appalachian practice that has long faced derision and criticism. It will also suggest how photography may be used as a form of dialogue to foster empathy and understanding within Appalachia.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Lauren Pond is a documentary photographer who specializes in religion, and for more than 10 years, has used her camera to explore the intersection of belief with daily life and culture. She received dual Bachelors degrees in journalism and art from Northwestern University and a Master's degree in photojournalism from Ohio University, and she currently works as a multimedia producer in the Ohio State University’s Center for the Study of Religion. Examples of her work are available on her website, www.laurenpondphoto.com.
Conference Subthemes
Diversity and Inclusion
Test of Faith
Pentecostal serpent handlers, also known as Signs Followers, hold a literal interpretation of a verse in the Bible’s Gospel of Mark, which states that true believers shall “take up serpents.” For more than a century, adherents to this Appalachian religious tradition have handled venomous snakes during worship.
Who are the serpent handlers? What does their faith mean to them? A documentary photographer who specializes in religion, I traveled to West Virginia in search of answers. There, I met Pastor Mack Wolford, a Signs Following preacher, and spent the following year photographing Mack and learning about his beliefs. My work changed dramatically in May 2012, when Mack suffered a fatal snakebite during a worship service I attended. I documented the events that followed and have continued my relationship with Mack’s family.
In my performance, I will present my photographs of Mack and his family; I will also discuss the experiences I have shared with the Wolfords and what these have taught me about the photographic process and the tenets of the Signs Following faith – namely, forgiveness and renewal. Lastly, I will explain the process of editing my work into a book, Test of Faith, published by the Duke Center for Documentary Studies in November 2017.
My performance will provide a nuanced, personal look at serpent handling, inviting greater appreciation of an Appalachian practice that has long faced derision and criticism. It will also suggest how photography may be used as a form of dialogue to foster empathy and understanding within Appalachia.
