Mary's Story

In 1988, everything changed for The Hunt family. What had once been a picture-perfect “American dream” - three healthy pregnancies, three thriving little boys, and a life that felt steady and predictable - was suddenly turned upside down with the birth of their fourth son, Lanier. Born at just two pounds, twelve ounces with multiple medical concerns,

Lanier entered the world fighting for every breath.

Two months in the NICU left his mother, Mary, wrestling with painful, soul-level questions - Was he meant to be here? Could I raise a child with such significant needs? Was someone else better equipped to care for him?

For one difficult week, she explored the possibility of adoption, guided by loving clergy and family who reminded her that either choice would come from a place of love. But in the end, she realized she could not let go. She needed to be the one to raise him, to know where he was, and to walk out whatever story God intended to write for them both.

And so the story continued. Alongside four other siblings, Lanier was raised in a loving (and loud!) home. He received specialized care through the Cobb County school system, and eventually the day came every family raising a child with disabilities must face: the moment the little yellow school bus stops coming.

As Lanier grew, his support needs remained significant, and his parents knew they needed to find a program that could match that level of support. What they found left them heartbroken. Some facilities were unclean. Others kept clients unstimulated, unengaged, or simply sitting alone. The thought of leaving their son in those environments felt unbearable.

Then they discovered Next Step Ministries, back then just a respite program out of First Baptist Church Woodstock.

Lanier started at the very first location, long before there were multiple campuses and a growing waitlist. Mary says the environment she found was just different: it was a place where safety meets stimulation, where dignity meets joy, and where every individual - no matter their ability level - is valued, welcomed, and loved. No one is turned away. Next Step Ministries didn’t just tolerate higher-support-needs adults like Lanier - they welcomed them.

They didn’t push her away.

They didn’t tell her he required “too much.”

They didn’t limit him to a corner of a room.

They created a space where he belonged.

She often says that while parents of children with disabilities are given this sacred responsibility, the staff at NSM choose it. And that choice matters. It reflects the goodness still present in the world - the same goodness she saw God weave into her family’s story even through fear and uncertainty.

Today, as she and her husband, Rick, look back, gratitude rises above everything else. Gratitude for a program that never turns families away. Gratitude for staff who love their son genuinely. Gratitude for a team that meets every level of need - from people who require total assistance to those pursuing greater independence. Gratitude for three locations that make care accessible to more families across the region.

And gratitude for donors - because many families wait years for state waivers. Without the generosity of supporters, countless adults with disabilities simply wouldn’t have anywhere to go.

As she reflects on all God has done through Next Step Ministries, she shared this invitation for anyone considering an end-of-year gift:

“The need for this program will never go away. No one knows when their lives will change forever, for me it was 1988. If you are looking for a program that blesses families in such a unique and beautiful way, this is the one to support. Your giving truly changes lives.”

Because for her family, and for so many others, Next Step Ministries is the Next Step forward - for every son, every daughter, every family member longing for a place to belong.

All proceeds and donations to Next Step Ministries support day programs that empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to grow, connect, and thrive.