Manassas Baptist Church:
A Legacy of PEACE and a Commitment to Finish the Task
For years, Manassas Baptist Church in Manassas, Virginia, has modeled what it looks like when a local church takes the PEACE Plan seriously—building Bridges of Love that meet real needs, transform communities, and open doors for the gospel. Now, under the leadership of Senior Pastor David Donahue, the church is preparing to take the next step: fully embracing the global vision of Finishing the Task.
A PEACE Partnership That Changed a Nation
The PEACE story began eighteen years ago when Pastor Donahue heard Rick Warren describe the vision of local churches adopting one nation, one community. The challenge ignited something in the congregation.
One of their deacons, Brian Taliafero, soon traveled to Ghana to distribute mosquito nets. On that trip, he met Emmanuel “Muss” Mustapha, a local leader with a four-part strategy to transform the northeastern region of Ghana:
- Provide a tractor to increase farm productivity for surrounding communities
- Build a school to improve access to education
- Distribute mosquito nets to combat malaria
- Plant churches that would share the hope of Christ
Taliafero brought the vision home, energized and determined. Pastor Donahue recalled:
“Our church was in the middle of a $2 million building program. I said, ‘There’s absolutely no way—we’ve got to build our building.’ But Brian said, ‘Just let me talk to the deacons.’ By the time he finished, I was ready to charge hell with a water pistol.”
What happened next became a defining moment. Donahue made one phone call to a church member, explained the vision, and—miraculously—the donor wrote the check for the tractor and the initial supplies. That simple step of obedience became the spark for something far bigger than anyone expected.
“More Than Nets”: A Statewide Movement Is Born
Through this partnership, Manassas Baptist connected with the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV), which launched the More Than Nets initiative. What started with one church in Tappahannock, VA quickly became a statewide movement.
Over the next several years:
- $1 million was raised
- Over 100,000 mosquito nets were distributed across northern Ghana
- Hundreds of churches were planted
- Thousands of people came to faith in Christ
- And—according to Ghana’s Ministry of Health—there was a remarkable
42% decline in malaria deaths in the region
Pastor Donahue reflected:
“The impact was overwhelming. The PEACE Plan greatly affected our church, our community, and the ministry of Virginia Baptists. We know it made a positive impact in Ghana, and we’re grateful for the vision that Rick shared—and for the opportunity to make a difference.”
This is the PEACE Plan at its best: local churches solving local problems through the power of the gospel.
A Long History of Sharing Christ’s Love
Manassas Baptist Church has a decades-long legacy of showing Christ’s love in tangible, compassionate ways—both at home and around the world. For nearly 12 years, the church has operated a homeless shelter, offering warmth, safety, and dignity to neighbors in need. For 50 years, they have helped recent immigrants learn English through their faithful ESOL ministry, walking alongside new families as they build their lives in the community. Since the earliest days of the church, they have been feeding the hungry in Manassas, ensuring that isolation and hardship are met with generosity and care.
Their love also extends globally through four long-term mission partnerships: Tree Ministries in Guatemala, where they help build homes, provide clean water, and feed children; Neighbors World Outreach in Costa Rica, helping prevent young women from being drawn into the sex trade through discipleship and support; Neighbors World Outreach in Kenya, supporting a home and school for abused women and children near Nairobi; and the Dorcas Ministry Center in New York City, where for twelve years teams from Manassas have served hundreds of Chinese children each summer through an all-day VBS. These long-standing commitments reflect a church family that consistently steps in where there is need, offering hope, compassion, and the love of Jesus in practical and transformative ways.
A New Season: Embracing the Vision of Finishing the Task
Today, Manassas Baptist Church is sensing a fresh call—one that builds on their PEACE legacy and directs it toward the global goal of completing the Great Commission.
Pastor Donahue recently shared how God has been prompting their church:
“About two or three weeks ago, I heard Rick Warren and Carey Nieuwhof talking about finishing the task, and it captured my attention. Our staff has been talking about this. We’re looking at how we’re going to start implementing this in our faith community so we can be part of the global movement.”
Their renewed vision includes:
- Mobilizing neighborhood chaplains
- Praying for people by name
- Encouraging every believer to share their faith story at least once a year
- Training members to do good in their community
- Engaging compassionately in places of heartbreak and injustice
Pastor Donahue describes this next step as a natural continuation of their calling:
“We want to motivate our church to be very intentional—to make an impact, to be people who are engaging with justice and making a difference. We want to be part of finishing the task.”
A Church Making a Global Difference—Again
Pastor Donahue once helped catalyze a movement in Ghana that reshaped an entire region. Now, they are positioning their congregation for a new chapter of intentional evangelism and mission—locally and globally.
Their legacy in the PEACE Plan shows what God can do when a church listens, responds, and steps forward in faith. We look forward to seeing what God does with their obedience to the Great Commission in this new season.
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