Second Mile Ministries unofficially began in 1979, when Virginia Rogers made the life-changing decision to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her newfound faith radiated a joy that was undeniable. Upon returning home from a business trip, her husband, Len, could immediately sense a change. Drawn to the joy she carried, Len sought the same peace, and in 1980, he too gave his life to the Lord.

Both Len and Virginia came from humble beginnings—Len, the son of sharecroppers in Cottonwood, Alabama, and Virginia, raised in a poor family from Southern Georgia. Their paths crossed unexpectedly in Auburndale, Florida, where Len was playing baseball in the streets with Virginia's brother. She was asked to join the game, and in that moment, when they saw each other for the first time, their story began.

They fell in love, and although their son arrived much earlier than they had planned, God was writing their story. Len, who had dropped out of school, began working diligently to provide for his young family. Virginia, brilliantly smart, also worked as a bookkeeper to help make ends meet. After a short stint in Pennsylvania to earn money for their son’s hospital bill, Len and Virginia returned to Florida, where Len built a successful career with Publix Supermarkets. Meanwhile, Virginia’s natural ability to save and plan for the future allowed them to build lasting financial stability. Through hard work, careful stewardship, and the blessings of God, their resources grew beyond anything they could have ever imagined.

As they entered retirement, Len and Virginia decided to give back in a way that reflected the generosity they had received from the Lord. They began using their resources to serve the Kingdom of God—traveling across the country to build and plant churches, serving faithfully within their own church body, and partnering with various ministries both locally and globally. Whether it was to support an individual or an organization, whenever the Lord was at work, they didn’t hesitate to partner with Him.