The first memory of Donnie that I can recall was when I was seven years old. My family attended a church in roseville about two miles down the street from Abundant Life Fellowship, Foothill community church. My buddy who was the child of a missionary told me “I can’t go to Sunday school today, my parents want me to see Donnie Moore speak and break things.” I knew immediately that Donnie Moore = cool.
Fast forward about 15 years I get invited by Becky and her then boyfriend, hahaha oh the irony, from Abundant life to come up to radical reality Easter camp for the day and I took it. I remember seeing the joy on young people’s faces, servants relishing the chance to serve, and a camp that was full of love.
I jumped in and started serving at radical reality Easter camp 2009, my now girlfriend Becky from Abundant life, there is your irony, was still running the program staff and I was ready to be a part of the team. I did about 8-10 program staffs with my now wife Becky, which has led to having our kids dance on stage, drive golf carts, and most importantly feel the love of Jesus that saturated every radical reality camp.
I remember the long time camp attendees predicting the color of the chair or the room on foregiveness night, I remember the seriousness that culminated with Holy Ghost night and the joy that rang through ebinezer hall on commissioning night. What is so powerful is that the same program, or equation if you will, that Donnie developed as the foundation for the Radical reality camps is as powerful today as the when it was first begun. I was a Christian heading up to the radical reality camp every year but every year I felt challenged, refreshed, and renewed because the Holy Spirit was the director of that camp, Donnie had the right heart to listen and direct the flow. Donnie also had that incredible way of making everyone feel included and special, he was larger than life to me in this particular area. Donnie just loved everyone and everyone loved him!
Baseball was a common topic that I would share with Donnie. I was fascinated with picking his brain about the players he knew and the stories that accompanied them, and he was always happy to oblige. Be it conversations about Ricky Henderson, which always included Ricky speaking in third person, or Donny sharing about who he was loving on, it was obvious that Donnie received favor in the sports world because he was genuine! He was the same guy everywhere talking to me and Beau at 1am near the hotel at the camp or in the weight room of the coliseum talking to the Giants, which he invited me too, he was the same guy.
It has been an absolute privilege to serve the Moore family. Program team, Deans, Directors, whatever you need we are still here to serve the Moore family. I count myself blessed to have been able to have known Donnie, as well as his wife and children. The Milton family loves you all and we pray for peace and comfort for you.