OUR FOUNDER
Founder's Story
A Life of Faith, Loss, and Resilience Early Life and Passion for Justice Pastor Jacqueline was born into a Christian family in Pakistan as the only sister among five brothers. From a young age, she was instilled with a deep sense of fairness and justice, witnessing firsthand the persecution faced by Christian minorities, particularly women. Her youngest brother, Shahbaz Bhatti, shared her passion for advocacy, and together, they often discussed ways to uplift marginalized communities. Life in Bahrain and Spiritual Transformation In 1986, after getting married, Pastor Jacqueline moved to Bahrain, where she worked as a pediatric in-charge nurse. She faced immense personal struggles that tested her faith, bringing her to the brink of despair. But through the prayers and support of her friends, she experienced a life-changing encounter with God, igniting her passion to serve Him wholeheartedly. She trained as a Sunday School teacher and became actively involved in her church. One day during church service, she received a vision by the Holy Spirit calling her to return to Pakistan and establish a House of Prayer—a sanctuary open to all, regardless of caste, color, or creed that would be available 24/7.
Returning to Pakistan: The Birth of a Ministry With her husband (who also became a pastor) and daughters, Jacqueline returned to Pakistan and began planting house churches. She pursued theological studies and completed her pastoral training. They traveled across different cities, eventually settling in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, where they established three home churches, including one in their own home. During her ministry, Jacqueline encountered countless Christian women who lacked education and trade skills, forcing them into domestic labor in non-Christian homes. Many faced abuse and exploitation but had no alternative since they were the sole breadwinners for their families. While ministering, she encountered countless Christian women forced into domestic labor due to a lack of education and trade skills. Many suffered abuse and exploitation with no way out. Moved by their plight, she sought God’s guidance, leading to the birth of the Meena Skill Development Center—a place where women could learn life-changing skills such as sewing, computer literacy, reading, and spoken English.
A Personal Tragedy: The Assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti On March 2, 2011, Jaqueline received a frantic call from her youngest brother Shahbaz Bhatti’s driver. Shahbaz, who at the time was Pakistan’s first and only Federal Christian Minister, had been assassinated by Islamic radicals—shot 36 times for advocating religious freedom in Pakistan. This tragic loss shook Jacqueline to her core. Only weeks before his death, she had spent time with her brother, discussing their shared mission for justice and empowerment. The pain of losing him and the follow up threats to herself and her family forced her and her family to flee to Canada for safety.
Rebuilding in Canada: A New Chapter of Ministry Adjusting to a new country and culture was difficult, but Jacqueline’s heart remained committed to her mission. She continuously prayed for direction on how to continue her work. After relocating to Canada, she further completed diplomas in social work, counseling, and spiritual counseling, equipping her with the necessary tools to serve and uplift women facing various challenges.
Women Arising for Destiny: A Global Movement When Pastor Jacqueline was led by the Holy Spirit to start a prayer group, she hesitated and asked for a sign from God. After their first meeting of six women in April 2019, Jacqueline initiated a WhatsApp prayer group, requesting members to add family and friends. That same day, a prayer request came for a missing child. After six hours of prayer, the family received word that she had been found. Another request followed for a two-year-old child on a ventilator, and after fervent prayers, the child was discharged the next day. Jacqueline knew then that this was God’s calling. As WAFD grew, Jacqueline met Pastor Judith Rios, an associate pastor at Beautiful Words of life Ministries, for twenty-one years, she introduced Jacqueline to Pastor Linda Ferrante. Pastor Linda Ferrante co-chairs the prayer team for Just Give Me Jesus and serves as a Director of Global Day of Prayer, Toronto. Soon after which Pastor Jacqueline connected with Pastor Lillian Brown at a meeting who immediately supported Jacqueline’s vision. Pastor Lillian Brown has been on staff at Catch the Fire Toronto for 18 years and leads there in several capacities including, the Prophetic, Freedom, Intercession & Women’s Ministry. The three Christian women leaders supported Pastor Jacqueline through prayer and mentorship encouraging Pastor Jacqueline in expanding WAFD. WAFD expanded its WhatsApp and Zoom prayers to the USA, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, and India, growing to 400+ members. A 24/7 prayer group, daily Zoom prayers and Bible study were established.