My favorite poem:

“He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!”

― Edwin Markham

Meet Anne Marie Kanter

My husband and I raised our 6 kids in Wisconsin, and for the past 8 years we’ve called Minnesota home. Today, we’re blessed with 5 (and counting!) wonderful grandchildren. I’m also the mother of a son with a rare chromosome disorder—a journey that has shaped my heart in countless ways. For over 30 years, I was a stay-at-home mom, and those years were filled with the ups and downs of raising a big family. My family is truly my greatest blessing. More than anything, my prayer for them is not that they would be “successful,” but that they would love and serve God wholeheartedly.

For three decades, my passion was youth ministry. I had the privilege of serving in churches, leading small groups, walking with teens on mission trips, planning events, and helping youth grow in a deeper relationship with Christ. Training young leaders and watching them develop a heart for prayer and discipleship has always been one of my greatest joys.

In recent years, God has shifted my passion toward disability ministry. While serving as a coordinator for a children’s disability ministry, I was grateful for all the good being done—but I also noticed the gaps. When kids with significant disabilities graduated from high school, there was little to support or include them in the church. That reality weighed heavily on my heart, especially because of my son. My longing is for every individual, regardless of age or ability, to be seen, valued, and given a true place in the body of Christ.