Dr. Ernest Desoto is the Associational Missionary for Central Baptist Association. He has served churches in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas in a variety of ministry roles. His last pastorate was at First Baptist Church in Sheridan from 2010-2016. Most recently, he was Associational Missionary for Liberty Baptist Association in southern Arkansas from 2016-2019.
Dr. DeSoto is a graduate of Southern Baptist College (now Williams Baptist University), Ouachita Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
For the past 17 years, Dr. DeSoto has been involved in international missions work in India, leading evangelism and church planting teams that have planted over 100 churches and established a Missionary Training Center near Bangalore.
His wife, Sherri, also a Ouachita Baptist University graduate, is a gifted and talented educator in the Sheridan School District. They have 2 children—both graduates of Ouachita Baptist University. Lindsey is in veterinary school at Oklahoma State University, and Robert, is a student at the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Samantha Jacobs serves as CBA's office assistant and financial/media secretary.
Samantha holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Samantha's husband, Dylan, is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School. They have one son (Alder) and a miniature Australian Shepherd (Kroger). Samantha and Dylan are members of Holland Chapel Baptist Church in Benton.
