Clint Dobson
|
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — A 28-year-old Baptist pastor and Truett Seminary graduate was found dead and his 67-year-old ministry assistant severely beaten inside their church on Thursday afternoon, March 3.
Police haven't released a cause of death for Clint Dobson, pastor of NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Judy Elliott was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth in critical but stable condition. Police are looking for Elliott's missing four-door, cream-colored 2007 Mitsubishi Galant, likely used as a getaway car.
Detectives are investigating robbery as a possible motive.
According to local media reports, a family member of a church employee became concerned after being unable to contact the person and asked a friend to go by the church to check. The friend found the doors locked, peered through a window and saw a motionless body.
The individual called police. Responding officers got a key to go inside from another church employee, where they found Dobson's body and the injured woman.
NorthPointe is a satellite ministry of First Baptist Church of Arlington, Texas, a congregation well known for its expansive social ministry. Tillie Burgin, executive director of Mission Arlington, described Dobson as a "sweet, gentle, great guy" and a huge help with her program helping the poor in comments quoted by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Mission Arlington's daily web update March 4 solicited prayers for Dobson's widow, Laura, and the North Pointe congregation.
Dobson graduated from Baylor University in 2004 and from Truett Seminary in 2008. He started working with the church, described on its website as a "fellowship of people from many different backgrounds … that are distinctly similar in our love for Jesus Christ," in June 2008.
Dobson's staff page on the First Baptist Church, Arlington, website lists "simplicity" as his idea of happiness and family and friends as the most important people in his life.
-30-
Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.