Final answer:
George Went Hensley was a preacher who introduced serpent handling into religious practice, founding a church in the early 20th century that is part of Pentecostal movements in the Appalachian United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Went Hensley was the founder of a church known for serpent handling as a part of religious practice. The origins of this practice can be traced back to Christian denominations, particularly in the Appalachian region of the United States, where handling venomous snakes is seen as a demonstration of faith and a literal interpretation of biblical passages such as Mark 16:17-18. Hensley believed that handling venomous snakes was a sign of faith and a demonstration of God's power to protect believers from harm. Hensley himself is attributed to starting the practice in the early 20th century and is considered a pivotal figure in the Church of God with Signs Following, making serpent handling a distinctive feature of certain Pentecostal movements.