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Private Notes
With winter fast approaching in the heart of Appalachia, Pastor Andrew Hamblin and Pastor Jamie Coots are in a desperate race against time: the men must capture venomous snakes before they go into hibernation. If they fail, the pastors won't be able to lead their congregations in one of the fundamental tenets of their religion as followers of the Holiness faith: They shall take up serpents.
When Pastor Jamie Coots' snake supply runs low, he hatches a risky plan to drive to Texas to hunt down some deadly western diamondback rattlers. With the help of his son and a couple of church members, the pastor successfully completes his mission without getting bitten. In Tennessee, Pastor Andrew Hamblin adds a new specimen to his snake collection: a very rare albino western diamondback.
Pastor Jamie Coots, his son Little Cody and their good friend Kenny Stewart are caught by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency transporting three western diamondback rattlers and two copperheads that they paid $800 for. The three are prosecuted by the state district attorney's office with the threat jail time for possessing and transporting illegal snakes. Pastor Andrew Hamblin goes with his wife and kids to a pet store to buy mice to feed his snakes.
Pastor Jamie Coots, his son Little Cody, their best friend Big Cody and Pastor Andrew Hamblin go snake hunting in the swamps of Caddo Lake, La. During the hunt, Pastor Andrew picks up a cottonmouth viper with his tongs but accidentally swings it into Little Cody, who is then bitten twice by the deadly snake. Even though he could be dead within hours, he refuses to go to the hospital, and insists instead that they all return to the cabin to pray.
Despite having just recovered from a near-fatal snakebite, Little Cody Coots is inspired to continue hunting for snakes. But as soon as he starts hunting, he feels the effects of the bite and is forced to wait for the crew on the sidelines while they wrestle with cottonmouths. The pastors find out that local media is seeking to report about someone being bitten in Andrew's church and Jamie believes the law has it in for them.
Pastor Andrew Hamblin is troubled by the lack of motivation he sees developing in his congregation. Few, if any, want to handle snakes, and he fears their faith is waning. After seeking the help of a nearby evangelical couple, he puts together a multiday revival with the hope of reigniting his congregation's devotion, and casting out any demons they may be carrying.
Pastor Jamie Coots' father, Greg, is the most important member of the family's church. He is bishop and spiritual guide. When Greg is bitten by a copperhead during services, the whole church family is extremely concerned, especially since he refuses to seek medical attention and he has a heart condition. Will Greg be able to make it through with only his prayers and faith? Not discouraged by the incident, congregants Big Cody and Alex go out looking for snakes.
Pastor Jamie Coots' daughter Trina has quit the church after separating from her husband. Now, she is defying the church dress code by wearing pants and makeup. Believing she is on a path to hell, Pastor Jamie tries to bring his daughter back to the church by taking her snake hunting. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, it is Pastor Andrew Hamblin's 22nd birthday, an age he never expected to reach. Several years ago, in his darkest hour, Andrew attempted suicide, but the gun failed.
Among the many traits Pastors Jamie Coots and Andrew Hamblin share is a passion for ensuring the future of their churches. For Andrew, this means appealing to his county commission to change Tennessee's state law against snake handling. Though he and his church have been allowed to practice without problems with the law, there are risks: if a congregant were to become seriously ill from a bite, the church could face closure, so Andrew petitions the public for support.
Big Cody is one of Pastor Jamie Coots' most devout followers. He had difficult struggles with drugs and crime throughout his youth until he found redemption by joining Jamie's church. But the church is nearly an hour's drive from Big Cody's home, and Jamie is concerned that his parishioner won't have the funds to continue making the trip and will backslide into sin.
Six years ago, Pastor Andrew Hamblin was on his way to becoming a famous banjo player, playing on the main stages of Nashville and Dollywood until his musical idol, Ricky Skaggs, helped turn him in the direction of following God. With Ricky playing in a nearby town, Pastor Andrew takes the opportunity to reunite with the man who changed his life. But an unexpected invitation to join his idol in a jam session, playing secular music, puts him in an awkward place.
Pastor Jamie Coots' daughter Trina is in the midst of a deep personal and spiritual struggle. To her family's dismay, she has divorced her husband, something regarded as a sin in their faith, and she no longer attends weekly services. Pastor Jamie and his wife, Linda, are concerned about the sinful path she is traveling down, and do everything they can think of to redirect her back to the church. After lots of praying and long discussions, Pastor Jamie invites Trina to go snake hunting with him.
Pastor Jamie Coots is a third-generation snake handler, and is hoping to someday pass the church on to his son Little Cody. Little Cody is great with snakes but has a lot to learn about leading a church and being a pastor. Not only does he lack the compassion and sensitivity needed, saying he has no tolerance for people who haven't found God, he also isn't responsible enough yet. Jamie worries about finding a way to bring Little Cody around before it's too late.
Pastor Andrew Hamblin and his wife take their five children to visit his grandparents, who raised him. They do not condone his snake handling, or that he is teaching his children to handle non-venomous snakes. And though they support him, they're reluctant to visit his church. Andrew is also on a lucky streak of catching snakes, even releasing some females back into the wild to repopulate the area. Pastor Jamie Coots isn't having the same kind of good luck.
Little Cody, son of Pastor Jamie Coots, is in a tough financial situation. He has been laid off from his job in the coal mine and has only heard about work in other parts of the state. Though his family needs the money, he's worried about putting his job before God, and falling off the path. In Tennessee, Pastor Andrew shows off the latest in his serpent collection: a 6-foot-long timber rattler. The snake will be a challenge for him or anyone to handle.
It's fall in Appalachia, and Pastors Andrew Hamblin and Jamie Coots have one thing on their mind: getting more snakes before they go into hibernation in their dens. The two hatch a plan to attend a reptile trading show in South Carolina called Repticon, where snakes are available both for sale and for trade. Andrew pawns his guitar in order to have enough cash to make a purchase, while Jamie thankfully has several newborn baby rattlesnakes that he can use as currency at the convention.
