WACO (ABP) – A new scholarship at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary has been established as a tribute to a pastor and graduate of the school murdered March 3 in his church office.
Rather than letting the tragic death of Clint Dobson, pastor of NorthPointe Church in Arlington, Texas, have the final say, his family joined with friends at the seminary to establish the Clint Dobson Memorial Fund, a scholarship that will serve future seminary students in his memory.
According to the Baylor Lariat, Dobson’s brother and sister – Chris Kirchmer and Sarah Dobson Mitchell – developed the idea for a memorial fund and approached Truett officials.
“This was something, because of his love for Truett and Baylor, the family wanted to do,” said David Hardage, director of development at Truett. “They wanted to continue his ministry and establish a legacy of his life that would be difference making for years and decades to come.”
Dobson’s siblings said they are doing it not just to remember their brother but as way to continue the ministry he started.
“It’s more personal than just being in his memory,” Kirchmer said. “For us, we see this as our final gift for Clint but beyond that, it’s important because we believe in what he was doing. There is going to be an opportunity for someone, even if it’s not Clint, to continue with that ministry.”
The fund will become an officially endowed George W. Truett Theological Seminary scholarship in the amount of $50,000. The family plans for the scholarship to specifically aid students who want to enter a pastoral profession.
Dobson, 28, was a Baylor graduate who originally planned to attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, but after Hurricane Katrina temporarily closed the school he returned to Waco to enter Truett. He excelled as a student, winning a preaching award in 2008, and developed an interest in service to the poor.
“Baylor was where he got his calling, and his experience at Truett was an amazing one,” Mitchell said. “This is our chance to give back to Truett and help someone else who wants to go into the ministry or pastor a church.”
After graduating from Truett in 2008, Dobson became pastor of NorthPointe Church, an older congregation being revitalized under a new name as a mission point with aid from First Baptist Church of Arlington, Texas. He died there during a robbery on the afternoon of Thursday, March 3. Two men have been charged with his murder.
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
The attack also seriously injured Judy Elliott, a 67-year-old ministry assistant at the church. Family members have declined to discuss her injuries with the media.
Baylor officials said they hope the new scholarship fund will serve to comfort and encourage family members and friends still mourning the loss of Dobson.
“We can’t make sense out of it,” David Garland, Truett Seminary dean,” told the Lariat, “but we can make something good come out of tragedy.”
Previous story:
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.