Women Arising for Destiny

BY RENÉE JAMES

Jacqueline Bhatti and her husband Yousaf Nishan Masih moved from Pakistan to Canada in 2011. Her brother, a high-ranking Christian politician in the government had just been assassinated. Today, Jacqueline’s husband pastors a CBOQ church plant in Milton, Ontario, while Jacqueline continues to raise up, train and disciple coordinators and leaders in her ministry Women Arising For Destiny.

Live: On your website, you share how God gave you a vision to “create a platform where women from all nations should feel comfort.” Tell us about your journey up to that point.

Jacqueline: My husband and I were working in the Middle East. We had good nursing jobs, lots of money and a beautiful toddler. However I had no peace. Life was a struggle, to the point where I drove my car into the ocean, deciding to end my life. Suddenly I saw my daughter and heard her say: “If you kill yourself, I will not have a mom.” I decided to live – for her.

What happened after?

A group of strong praying nurses fasted and prayed for my husband and me. Because of their ministry, we got baptized. After that, it was clear that God had blessed us. We began praying for the patients at the hospital where we worked. Patients, some of them sick unto death, were healed.

What a ministry!

Because we were praying like this, hospital administration gave us a choice: stop praying in this way or resign. We left our jobs and returned to our home country of Pakistan. I asked God to tell me what I should be doing. He said: “Open a house for me. It should be open for all people – everybody should be welcome.” I then asked what the name of this house would be. He replied: “House of Prayer.” So my husband and I opened up a skill centre where women could come and learn English, learn to read, learn how to use a computer. And where they could come for prayer and to pray.

Why did you focus on women?

All around me I saw women suffering, especially women living in low-income circumstances. Marriages were stretched or about to break. They reminded me of my brokenness. Women were scared to share their real experiences with their pastors. The skill centre became a house of prayer; a place where they could come and know someone would be there to pray for them. I knew that any woman who came would feel His comfort.

Were you ever scared? Your brother was assassinated by the Taliban. And this is Pakistan, a Muslim country.

Yes. I was almost kidnapped at one point. After my brother was killed, we decided to come to Canada. I had to leave the skill centre/house of prayer space behind.

The online prayer ministry started when you came to Canada.

Yes. After moving to Canada, I studied social work and counselling. I got to know women living with discrimination, suffering and pain. I again asked God what He wanted me to do. He clearly said: “Start a group and run it 24/7.” I had no idea how to do that – I needed my family’s help to get a group started on WhatsApp! We launched in 2019 with six ladies.

How did women learn about the ministry? Word of mouth! Women told other women and invited them to join in prayer. Today, about 300 women are part of this ministry. I also created a different group for young women. In addition to the online groups, women leaders have opened physical houses of prayer. We’ve just opened a physical house of prayer in Rawalpindi in Pakistan so we now have a total 10 physical houses of prayer in several countries.

Did you think it would grow to this degree? You’ve basically been running and growing an international ministry all online during a pandemic.

I never thought it would grow like this. This is the Holy Spirit and the

power of God. That’s the truth. God blesses us in our weaknesses. In fact those weaknesses don’t matter. He wants to see our hearts! Him, or praying for my leaders and coordinators and their situations. God is changing my life in a miraculous way. When I preach, the Word comes alive in ways it hadn’t before.

God gives me the energy. I think back to when I was about to end my life and I wonder: What would have

THIS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE POWER OF GOD. THAT’S THE TRUTH. GOD BLESSES US IN OUR WEAKNESSES.

How has God changed you in the three and a half years you’ve been running Women Arise For Destiny?

These years have changed my life entirely! My relationship with God has increased. I spend about five to six hours a day in prayer – simply with happened to the women who are now part of Women Arising For Destiny? I do get anxious at times. Yet the more the challenges come, the more my faith in Him increases.

This ministry is an international 24/7 house of prayer that runs both online (Zoom and WhatsApp) and in-person. As at this writing, 300 women take part in this ministry, having joined from Canada, the US, Pakistan, India, Thailand and Australia. Learn more at womenarisingfordestiny.org.

What’s next for you and the ministry?

We’ve just opened a physical house of prayer in Rawalpindi. I’d love to have it become a space where women may once more come and learn new skills and be prayed for. I want them to feel the Master’s touch; that touch of salvation and healing.

And more women want me to travel – to visit in-person for equipping and for prayer.

Any prayer requests?

The work is growing globally. And I’m not getting any younger! Do pray for generous support so that I can do more. Pray that I remain healthy.