CWN  - Most of America came to know John Gimenez through the prayer rallies he organized in Washington, D.C.

But before he launched a spiritual struggle for the nation, he fought a battle of his own.

Gimenez was a former drug addict and prisoner, but after giving his life to Christ in 1963 he became an ordained minister.

He and his wife, Anne, founded Rock Church in 1968 after traveling to Virginia Beach to appear on the 700 Club.

Today Rock Church International has planted more than 500 churches across the globe.

But Gimenez also had a desire to see America turn back to God.

He founded "America for Jesus" and in 1980 he led the "Washington for Jesus" prayer rally with Pat Robertson and Campus Crusade founder Bill Bright.

There were more Washington for Jesus rallies in the 80s and 90s and in 2007 he called Christians together to celebrate the founding of the first settlement in America.

On his last appearance on the 700 Club in april 2007, he said his goal was to help America fulfill its destiny.