Bishop John Gimenez, an author and song writer, was the co-founder of Rock Church on Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, along with his wife, Evangelist Anne E. Nethery of Corpus Christi, Texas.
John was born in Spanish Harlem and raised in South Bronx. At age 11 he became addicted to drugs and went to reform school. Over the years he had little hope of reformation and ended up in Rikers Island. In 1963, he left prison and gave his life to Jesus, overcoming his addiction by the mercy and delivering power of God. He and other young men formerly in the same circumstances, toured the nation, presenting the gripping drama of their lives. In Chicago, "The Addicts" acted before the Full Gospel Business Men's World Convention, which airlifted the group to London where many addicts from its Soho section repented and were saved, being released from their dependency without symptoms of withdrawal.
News of the conversions were recorded in London newspapers, which spurred six Scotland Yard officers to attend further conventions. As a result, the officers were converted and filled with the Holy Spirit. But years of the negative repetition of reenacting the addiction took its toll and John eventually found himself at the end of the line in Coudersport, PA, where he was taken in by Pastor David Minor (whose ministry was housing waifs and mending the crippled).
Anne, a serious woman in pursuit of God, was in no hurry to get married. She had met John and had to chauffeur him to a function. In her car's rear window she kept a man's hat which was to protect her from men thinking she was available. John, in the back seat, saw it and asked her why she kept it. Apparently she explained. And because she knew she was not looking for a husband, she dared further to say she would marry the first man whose head it fit. John then put the hat on, and Anne saw, in the rear view mirror, that it fit him perfectly. Uh oh.
It was during one of the evangelistic tours that this wife-yet-to-be first prophesied over John, calling him to task with a hard, but hopeful Word from God. Whatever the prophesy was, it came true in a matter of months. John barely survived it.
The journey of John and Anne's ministry was written in a 1979 book entitled "Upon This Rock," by Robert P. Lamb. John's earlier story was told in a book "Up Tight" and a movie, "Way Out," which was made about the group's addictive struggles.
Rock Church, founded in the 1970's, has multiplied it's ministry and has started over 500 churches. With partners, John was principally responsible for the conception and organization of "Washington For Jesus," which gathered thousands of Christians to pray for the nation for 2 days in D.C.
He was a personable man and a friend to many.
John died after suffering a stroke. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
John was born in Spanish Harlem and raised in South Bronx. At age 11 he became addicted to drugs and went to reform school. Over the years he had little hope of reformation and ended up in Rikers Island. In 1963, he left prison and gave his life to Jesus, overcoming his addiction by the mercy and delivering power of God. He and other young men formerly in the same circumstances, toured the nation, presenting the gripping drama of their lives. In Chicago, "The Addicts" acted before the Full Gospel Business Men's World Convention, which airlifted the group to London where many addicts from its Soho section repented and were saved, being released from their dependency without symptoms of withdrawal.
News of the conversions were recorded in London newspapers, which spurred six Scotland Yard officers to attend further conventions. As a result, the officers were converted and filled with the Holy Spirit. But years of the negative repetition of reenacting the addiction took its toll and John eventually found himself at the end of the line in Coudersport, PA, where he was taken in by Pastor David Minor (whose ministry was housing waifs and mending the crippled).
Anne, a serious woman in pursuit of God, was in no hurry to get married. She had met John and had to chauffeur him to a function. In her car's rear window she kept a man's hat which was to protect her from men thinking she was available. John, in the back seat, saw it and asked her why she kept it. Apparently she explained. And because she knew she was not looking for a husband, she dared further to say she would marry the first man whose head it fit. John then put the hat on, and Anne saw, in the rear view mirror, that it fit him perfectly. Uh oh.
It was during one of the evangelistic tours that this wife-yet-to-be first prophesied over John, calling him to task with a hard, but hopeful Word from God. Whatever the prophesy was, it came true in a matter of months. John barely survived it.
The journey of John and Anne's ministry was written in a 1979 book entitled "Upon This Rock," by Robert P. Lamb. John's earlier story was told in a book "Up Tight" and a movie, "Way Out," which was made about the group's addictive struggles.
Rock Church, founded in the 1970's, has multiplied it's ministry and has started over 500 churches. With partners, John was principally responsible for the conception and organization of "Washington For Jesus," which gathered thousands of Christians to pray for the nation for 2 days in D.C.
He was a personable man and a friend to many.
John died after suffering a stroke. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Bishop John Gimenez, an author and song writer, was the co-founder of Rock Church on Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, along with his wife, Evangelist Anne E. Nethery of Corpus Christi, Texas.
John was born in Spanish Harlem and raised in South Bronx. At age 11 he became addicted to drugs and went to reform school. Over the years he had little hope of reformation and ended up in Rikers Island. In 1963, he left prison and gave his life to Jesus, overcoming his addiction by the mercy and delivering power of God. He and other young men formerly in the same circumstances, toured the nation, presenting the gripping drama of their lives. In Chicago, "The Addicts" acted before the Full Gospel Business Men's World Convention, which airlifted the group to London where many addicts from its Soho section repented and were saved, being released from their dependency without symptoms of withdrawal.
News of the conversions were recorded in London newspapers, which spurred six Scotland Yard officers to attend further conventions. As a result, the officers were converted and filled with the Holy Spirit. But years of the negative repetition of reenacting the addiction took its toll and John eventually found himself at the end of the line in Coudersport, PA, where he was taken in by Pastor David Minor (whose ministry was housing waifs and mending the crippled).
Anne, a serious woman in pursuit of God, was in no hurry to get married. She had met John and had to chauffeur him to a function. In her car's rear window she kept a man's hat which was to protect her from men thinking she was available. John, in the back seat, saw it and asked her why she kept it. Apparently she explained. And because she knew she was not looking for a husband, she dared further to say she would marry the first man whose head it fit. John then put the hat on, and Anne saw, in the rear view mirror, that it fit him perfectly. Uh oh.
It was during one of the evangelistic tours that this wife-yet-to-be first prophesied over John, calling him to task with a hard, but hopeful Word from God. Whatever the prophesy was, it came true in a matter of months. John barely survived it.
The journey of John and Anne's ministry was written in a 1979 book entitled "Upon This Rock," by Robert P. Lamb. John's earlier story was told in a book "Up Tight" and a movie, "Way Out," which was made about the group's addictive struggles.
Rock Church, founded in the 1970's, has multiplied it's ministry and has started over 500 churches. With partners, John was principally responsible for the conception and organization of "Washington For Jesus," which gathered thousands of Christians to pray for the nation for 2 days in D.C.
He was a personable man and a friend to many.
John died after suffering a stroke. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
John was born in Spanish Harlem and raised in South Bronx. At age 11 he became addicted to drugs and went to reform school. Over the years he had little hope of reformation and ended up in Rikers Island. In 1963, he left prison and gave his life to Jesus, overcoming his addiction by the mercy and delivering power of God. He and other young men formerly in the same circumstances, toured the nation, presenting the gripping drama of their lives. In Chicago, "The Addicts" acted before the Full Gospel Business Men's World Convention, which airlifted the group to London where many addicts from its Soho section repented and were saved, being released from their dependency without symptoms of withdrawal.
News of the conversions were recorded in London newspapers, which spurred six Scotland Yard officers to attend further conventions. As a result, the officers were converted and filled with the Holy Spirit. But years of the negative repetition of reenacting the addiction took its toll and John eventually found himself at the end of the line in Coudersport, PA, where he was taken in by Pastor David Minor (whose ministry was housing waifs and mending the crippled).
Anne, a serious woman in pursuit of God, was in no hurry to get married. She had met John and had to chauffeur him to a function. In her car's rear window she kept a man's hat which was to protect her from men thinking she was available. John, in the back seat, saw it and asked her why she kept it. Apparently she explained. And because she knew she was not looking for a husband, she dared further to say she would marry the first man whose head it fit. John then put the hat on, and Anne saw, in the rear view mirror, that it fit him perfectly. Uh oh.
It was during one of the evangelistic tours that this wife-yet-to-be first prophesied over John, calling him to task with a hard, but hopeful Word from God. Whatever the prophesy was, it came true in a matter of months. John barely survived it.
The journey of John and Anne's ministry was written in a 1979 book entitled "Upon This Rock," by Robert P. Lamb. John's earlier story was told in a book "Up Tight" and a movie, "Way Out," which was made about the group's addictive struggles.
Rock Church, founded in the 1970's, has multiplied it's ministry and has started over 500 churches. With partners, John was principally responsible for the conception and organization of "Washington For Jesus," which gathered thousands of Christians to pray for the nation for 2 days in D.C.
He was a personable man and a friend to many.
John died after suffering a stroke. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
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