Ray Comfort cancels plans for $25,000 gift card giveaway at atheist rally

Evangelical Pastor Ray Comfort has been prevented by the Washington D.C. police from giving away $25,000 worth of Subway gift cards along with his new book "Why Pigs Will Fly Before America Has an Atheist President" to thousands of atheists in the upcoming Reason Rally at the Lincoln Memorial on June 4.

The filmmaker and best-selling author announced in a press release on Friday, May 27, "To the D.C. police, that constituted a protest and therefore we needed a permit to gather."

He added, "We would have to stay at the other end of the National Mall, and they said that if we persisted to approach atheists to speak with them we would be arrested."

Therefore, according to Comfort, only 17 members of his crew will be attending the event as individuals since doing so won't require a permit. He also indicated that the Reason Rally is free to the public and going there as groups of individuals wouldn't be sanctioned with a permit or arrest.

Earlier in May, the TV co-host of "The Way of the Master" invited Christians through his ministry's official website to join him as he announced his plan of filming an open-air preaching during the atheist rally to reach out to those he feels are lost.

"The $25,000 worth of gift cards are a little something for them to chew on (we are hoping to feed 5,000 — it's been done before)," Comfort was quoted by Christian Newswire.

Comfort admitted that he's a little frustrated over the cancellation of the outreach where he noted that 1,000 Christians have officially registered but added that he understands the perspective of the police who view Christians and atheists as enemies. Comfort described his relationship with the atheists as "very good."

"In what is so often a cruel world, we tried to show a little kindness and it didn't work," Comfort quipped.

"So it now looks like we will be eating Subway sandwiches for the next 40 years," Comfort joked.

According to atheist blogger Hemant Mehta of The Friendly Atheist, Comfort announced that the gift cards will now be given to the homeless.