Rev. Sandy Moore co-founded the Center for Universal Truth, now known as InSpirit Center for Spiritual Living Orange County, in May of 1999 with her husband, Rev. Kirk, who is the Center’s music director.

That foundation helped her to survive and triumph over the most excruciating pain a woman can experience — the loss of a child. Her journey to the ministry began in 1992 after the tragic, sudden death of her teenage daughter, Tara, in a car crash.

Following Tara’s death, Sandy and her husband Kirk uncovered a fascination that Tara had for angels. Grief-stricken and searching for answers, the couple opened an angel store called Tara’s Angels, in San Juan Capistrano, as a way of honoring their beloved child. The specialty shop and the Moore’s story was widely covered by both local and national media, including a cover story in People Magazine and an in-depth piece on the TV news magazine, Dateline.

Tara’s Angels soon attracted people from all over the world. Many people came to share their own grief and talk about the loss of a loved one. There were so many people that Sandy started facilitating a regular support group at the store. At the time, Sandy had enjoyed 20 years as an elementary school teacher. With encouragement from her husband and members of the support group, Sandy completed her ministerial training and the Moores founded The Center for Universal Truth in Mission Viejo on Mother’s Day in May 1999.

In January 2002, the Center relocated to a larger home in San Juan Capistrano to accommodate its rapidly growing membership. The Moores also made the decision to close Tara’s Angels so they could focus more on their growing Center ministry. In 2007, the name was changed to Center for Spiritual Living Orange County. In May 2009, with a new name, InSpirit Center, relocated to Mission Viejo to accommodate our continuously growing congregation.

Rev. Sandy is the co-author with her daughter Deanna Moore of The Green Intention: Living in Sustainable Joy.