ARLINGTON, Texas — Church members holding Bibles hugged and cried outside a church in a Dallas suburb on Friday, a day after their young pastor was killed and a ministry assistant was severely beaten in what police suspect was a robbery gone wrong.
Because items were missing from NorthPointe Baptist Church, investigators suspect that robbery was a motive but would not say exactly what things or if any money was stolen Thursday, said Tiara Ellis Richard, an Arlington police spokeswoman.
Authorities continued searching for the injured church employee’s car, which was believed stolen after the crime. The woman remained hospitalized Friday.
The Rev. Clint Dobson, 28, who had led NorthPointe, a satellite church of First Baptist Church of Arlington, for about three years, was described as a dynamic and caring pastor whose heart was even bigger than his tall stature.
“He always had a smile on his face and would hug you as you walked in,” said Lida Cummings, fighting back tears. “He had joy in his heart. He will really be missed.”
The young pastor was a distant relative of James Dobson, one of the country’s most influential conservative Christian leaders.
“The family is quite shocked,” said James Dobson’s assistant Becky Lane, who said the young pastor was the son of one of the elder Dobson’s cousins.
Investigators were still trying to determine what time the attack occurred. Police were called to the church at about 4:15 p.m. Thursday after someone went to check on Clint Dobson and the assistant after a relative could not reach one of them, and then looked in a church window and saw the victims on the floor. (AP)
