Meet Our Pastors and Staff
Senior Pastor
Pastor Ben Holland
Pastor Ben has been the senior pastor at Dunkirk Baptist Church, since March 2017. He was born in Roy, UT to an Air Force family, but claims Fuquay-Varina, NC as his hometown. He earned his BBA and MBA at Campbell University and worked in the insurance field for several years. In 2000, he accepted God’s call to enter full-time ministry. He studied at Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (DMin). Prior to coming to Dunkirk, he served as senior pastor in Tulare, CA for 10 years. His passion is to help people understand God’s Word, put God’s Word into action, and lead others to be fruitful followers of Christ.
While in Dallas, TX, Ben met and married the love of his life, Lindsay. They have four children – Caroline, Marshall, Katie, and Austin. In his spare time (if he ever has any), Ben enjoys hiking, exploring historical sites, and rooting for his NC sports teams.
Associate Pastor, Youth and Worship
Chris Garrett
Pastor Chris has been the youth pastor at Dunkirk Baptist Church, since June 2018. He added worship pastor to his title in September 2021. He was born in Joliet, IL in 1971, and he and his family moved with United State Army Chorus to the D.C. area soon after. Other than college taking him to Columbia, SC and serving almost 6 years as a worship pastor in Pekin, IL from 2012-2018, he has lived in southern MD since 1983. In 1996 Pastor Chris completed his BS degree at Columbia International University (CIU) with a major in Bible and a minor in Music. From 1999-2007 he developed Bible curriculum while teaching high school Bible at Grace Brethren Christian School of Clinton, MD.
Chris married his high school sweetheart in 1993. They were blessed with their son, Samuel in 2005. Chris has taken a number of seminary classes through CIU and is enrolling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (online) to work toward his MDiv in 2023. Pastor Chris resonates with the critical optimism of the teenage mind and feels at home teaching and discipling young believers. He has a love for music and enjoys finding ways to help people connect with theological truths through creative experiences. His favorite activities are game nights with family and friends, watching football with friends, riding bikes, and playing music.
Associate Pastor, Discipleship
Ed Wilcher
Pastor Ed Wilcher has been serving as an Associate Pastor at Dunkirk Baptist Church since February 2022. Born in 1973, he shares a special connection with the legacy of his parents, Rev. Milton (Sr.) and Cora Wilcher, who founded Atlantic Street Baptist Church (ASBC) in Washington, D.C., that same year.
​
With a deep passion for ministry, Ed pursued a double major in Religion and Christian Education at West Virginia Wesleyan College (BA ’95) and was licensed to preach at ASBC in 2002. His calling to pastoral ministry led to his ordination for Pastoral and Gospel Ministry at Dunkirk Baptist Church in September 2021.
​
Beyond his pastoral role, Ed has dedicated over twenty-four years to law enforcement and currently serves as a Detective Sergeant in the Internal Affairs Division of the Montgomery County Department of Police in Maryland. His extensive career includes experience in criminal investigations, special investigations, and community policing. He has received multiple commendations, including the Chief’s Award, President's Award, and Outstanding Community Service Award, and has been recognized as Adoptive Parent of the Year (2021) by the Maryland Department of Social Services.
​
A devoted father and mentor, Ed has been blessed with seven children—Camille, Bryce, Drew, Kendall, Myles, Cora, and Rhys. One of his favorite pastimes is exploring used bookstores in search of Christian classics and rare literary treasures, and he loves sharing books that will help build up the Body of Christ.
