 Hood and Williamson similarly argue that the beginnings of Pentecostal snake handling rituals cannot be ascribed to a single person, and that the observance arose independently on multiple occasions.Historians agree that Hensley helped spread Pentecostal snake handling throughout the southeast United States, and that coverage of Hensley's ministry was influential in prompting various churches to include the practice in their services.The media has focused on popular snake handlers such as Hensley, and the deaths of ministers due to snakebite have received particular attention.