World Missions Appoints Two New Regional Directors

- World Missions Ministries Communications Office

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On February 6, 2025, World Missions Ministries (WMM) Executive Director Bishop Talmadge Gardner, in consultation with the WMM Council, appointed two new Regional Directors: Missionary Edgar Banaga as the new Regional Director over the Indo-Pacific, and Missionary Christopher Dunlap as the new Regional Director over the Caribbean and West Indies.

“Regional Directors serve a very important role in our World Missions Ministries team,” Gardner said. “They not only provide field care for members of our missionary family within their designated countries of authority but are also our primary connection and liaison to national leaders and pastors in the countries within their region.”

Banaga and Dunlap are the newest of 13 Regional Directors who serve the Lord faithfully and sacrificially around the world.

“For several years now, I have been praying that the Lord would send us missionaries with this unique gift mix in specific regions to serve in this capacity. The Lord is answering those prayers,” Gardner said.

Missionary Edgar Banaga, the new Regional Director of the Indo-Pacific Region, with his wife Rosana.

Edgar Banaga and his wife Rosana were born in the Philippines. Before moving to the United States, Edgar graduated from an IPHC Bible College and had deep ministry roots within the nation and in the IPHC. While in the United States, the Banagas have been considered some of the most successful church planters in the USA – Pacific Western Conference. The Banagas then moved back to the Philippines as World Missions Missionaries in 2024 with a bold vision to plant churches and expand the Kingdom of God beyond current borders.

There is currently an IPHC ministry presence in seven countries within the Indo-Pacific.

“His (Banaga’s) contacts and vision for the 16 countries that we do not have a ministry presence in will expedite our moving forward quickly if we can provide him with the necessary resources,” Gardner said.

Missionary Christopher Dulap, the new Regional Director of the Caribbean and West Indies, with his wife Alicia and daughter Everleigh.

Christopher Dunlap and his wife Alicia first served as WMM Missionaries in Kenya before hearing the Lord’s call and transitioning to the Dominican Republic in 2023. Along with their daughter Everleigh, born in Oct. 2024, the Dunlaps believe that through training, discipleship, and relationship building, they will see ministers within the region rise up to help fulfill the Great Commission in the countries still unreached or without an IPHC ministry presence.

There is currently an IPHC ministry presence in six countries within the Caribbean and West Indies, and 25 countries with no IPHC ministry presence.

“This is a burgeoning harvest field that is ripe with opportunity,” Gardner said. “Christopher and Alicia Dunlap are multi-talented/gifted. This region will be well served by their leadership for many years to come, Lord willing.”

World Missions also recognizes the service of Steve Cofer and Bryan Nix who have served the Caribbean and West Indies and the Indo-Pacific as Interim Regional Directors, respectively. Their ministry efforts have prepared these regions for successful futures.