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 has been associate pastor of discipleship at Dunkirk Baptist Church, since February 2022. He was born in 1973, which was the same year that His father and mother, Rev. Milton (Sr.) and Cora Wilcher, founded the Atlantic Street Baptist Church (ASBC) in Washington D.C. Pastor Ed double majored in Religion and Christian Education at West Virginia Wesleyan College (BA ’95) and was licensed to preach in 2002 (ASBC). Pastor Ed also currently serves as a police officer with Montgomery County Police (MD) and has served in law enforcement for more than twenty-four years. After joining Dunkirk Baptist Church in 2018, he was ordained for Pastoral and Gospel Ministry in September 2021 and is currently attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (online).
Pastor Ed and his wife Dynita, an elementary school teacher, have been married since 2003 and are serving together as foster parents in Calvert County. They have seven children—Camille, Bryce, Drew, Kendall, Myles, Cora, and Khalil. Ed’s favorite pastime is exploring used bookstores for Christian classics and treasures.
