Washington, Sep. 1 (ANI): Protestors have started voicing their opposition outside the congregation of a Phoenix-based pastor, who tells his parishioners that he prays for President Obama's death.

Phoenix-based Pastor Steven Anderson attracted widespread attention after he delivered a sermon titled, "Why I Hate Barack Obama," and encouraged his parishioners to join him in praying for the president's death.

"I hope that God strikes Barack Obama with brain cancer so he can die like Ted Kennedy and I hope it happens today," Fox News quoted him, as saying.

He called his message "spiritual warfare" and said he does not condone killing.

However, some protesters gathered around his church on Sunday, calling Anderson's words "incomprehensible."

According to the report, Anderson has also received some death threats.

Anderson's provocative message stems from Obama's abortion-rights stance.

In his controversial sermon, delivered at his Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe before Obama arrived for a speech in Phoenix earlier in the month, the pastor had said he wants the president to "melt like a snail" with salt on it.

"I'm gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That's what I'm gonna pray," he told his congregation.

The last time fierce opposition to Obama's abortion position drew widespread attention was when Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, the report said.

The Anderson sermon was also in news after it was reported that one man carrying an assault rifle outside the Phoenix arena where Obama spoke was a member of Anderson's church, the report added. (ANI)