Bobbie Houston

Roberta Lee Houston, known worldwide as Bobbie Houston, is a New Zealand-born Australian pastor who, alongside her husband Brian, co-founded Hillsong Church and helped turn it into one of the most influential Pentecostal movements of the modern era. For over four decades she served as co-Senior Pastor, shaping the church's global worship culture and championing women's leadership through her signature Colour Conference.

Bobbie's voice reaches far beyond the pulpit. As of 2026 she continues to minister through Jesus Followers TV, the online church she and Brian launched after leaving Hillsong in 2022. Her teaching on faith, identity, and perseverance has resonated with millions, and her annual Colour Conference has drawn tens of thousands of women to Sydney and other cities worldwide. She has authored several books, including The Sisterhood and Stay the Path, and has ministered in over 60 countries.

Fans and followers know her for her warm, pastoral approach and her commitment to building community. Even after stepping back from the senior pastor role, she remains a sought-after speaker and mentor, dedicated to equipping a new generation of leaders. [edit]

Bobbie Houston grew up in New Zealand, though public details about her early childhood are scarce. She relocated to Australia in her youth, and it was there that she met Brian Houston. The two married in the 1970s, and together they felt called to plant a church on the outer edge of Sydney's growing northwest. That church, initially named Hills Christian Life Centre, started as a small congregation meeting in a school hall.

In those early years, Bobbie balanced raising a young family with the demands of pioneering ministry. She developed a passion for women's ministry, which would later become her signature contribution. The couple's vision was simple but ambitious: to build a church that would reach people who had given up on religion. Their early services were marked by contemporary worship, practical teaching, and an emphasis on community, elements that would define the Hillsong movement.

By 1983, the church was formally established as Hillsong Church, and the Houstons were on their way to building a global phenomenon. [edit]

The breakthrough for Bobbie Houston came in 1997 when she launched the Colour Conference, an annual women's gathering that quickly became her signature event. Drawing tens of thousands of attendees to Sydney and later to cities like London, New York, and Cape Town, the conference addressed themes of faith, identity, and social justice, and created a global community of women known as The Sisterhood.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Hillsong's worship music ministry exploded worldwide, producing chart-topping albums and songs like "Shout to the Lord" that became staples in churches across the globe. Bobbie was a key architect of this movement, co-leading the church alongside Brian and helping it expand to campuses in multiple countries.

In 2022, following Brian's departure from Hillsong amid controversy, Bobbie stepped back from her senior pastor role. In December 2023, the couple announced plans for a new church, and in 2024 they launched Jesus Followers TV, an online ministry. As of 2026, Bobbie remains active, speaking at conferences and calling Christians to transform outrage into prayerful action. [edit]

Bobbie Houston is widely seen as a pioneering female Pentecostal leader who championed women's empowerment within the church. Her signature contribution, the Colour Conference, created a global sisterhood that transcends denominations, and her teaching style emphasizes faith, identity, community, and perseverance.

Her social media voice is warm and pastoral, blending personal family content with ministry teaching. She has a dedicated following of women who call themselves "The Sisterhood," a term she coined and also used as the title of her book. Bobbie's public image is that of a gracious but determined leader, one who has faced controversy with resilience and continues to speak into the lives of millions. [edit]

Bobbie Houston commands a global stage defined by decades of religious leadership rather than secular pop culture metrics. Her influence spans over 60 countries, anchoring a transnational network of believers through the Hillsong movement and her own initiatives. Despite this massive reach, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Bobbie Houston and determined she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings for the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. She is unranked in the current cycle. Her supporters are not organized under a formal fandom name; instead, they identify as Jesus followers, members of Hillsong Church, or participants in The Colour Sisterhood. This community operates through established ecclesiastical structures and digital ministry platforms rather than fan clubs. Interaction occurs via pastoral engagement, speaking events, and online content, where her voice reaches hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. There are no documented fan-led campaigns, such as birthday billboards or streaming drives, driving her profile. Her legacy is measured by theological milestones like the founding of Hillsong Christian Life Centre and the creation of the anthem "Shout to the Lord," which remain central to her cultural mythology within Pentecostal circles.[edit]

Roberta Lee Houston, known worldwide as Bobbie Houston, has gone by "Bobbie" her entire life. Her Instagram bio distills her priorities into three letters: "Life/Fam/Ldship." She has ministered in over 60 countries throughout her career, bringing her message to cities across the globe. Bobbie founded The Colour Sisterhood foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting women and children in need. One of the most famous Christian worship songs, "Shout to the Lord," emerged from the Hillsong movement she helped build. Her son Joel leads Hillsong United, the worship band behind many of those global hits. A widely retold story in Christian circles concerns the origins of "Shout to the Lord," a song deeply tied to the Houston ministry's era that became a staple of modern worship. Another legendary moment centers on her redefinition of women's ministry through the Colour Conference, which created a global sisterhood transcending denominations. Following scandals involving her husband Brian, the couple announced plans for a new church in late 2023, marking a significant narrative shift toward their new initiative, Jesus Followers TV.[edit]

Bobbie Houston married Brian Houston in the 1970s, and their partnership has been both personal and professional. Together they have three children: Joel, who leads the worship ministry Hillsong United, Ben, and Laura. The family has been central to Hillsong's story, with the Houstons often describing the church as an extension of their home.

Bobbie has spoken publicly about the importance of family, and her social media often features moments with her children and grandchildren. The couple's household has weathered significant public scrutiny, especially during Brian's legal battles and departure from Hillsong. Despite the challenges, Bobbie and Brian remain married and continue to minister together through Jesus Followers TV. [edit]

Bobbie Houston is closely associated with her husband Brian Houston, with whom she co-founded Hillsong Church. Their son Joel Houston leads Hillsong United, the worship band that brought global fame to the church's music. She is also connected to Carl and Laura Lentz, former Hillsong pastors who launched their own ministries after leaving the church. [edit]

Bobbie Houston's personal life has been defined by her marriage to Brian Houston, whom she wed in the 1970s. The couple met in Australia and quickly became partners in ministry, pioneering what would become Hillsong Church. Their marriage has endured for over five decades, surviving both the pressures of leading a global church and the controversies that led to Brian's departure from Hillsong in 2022.

Throughout their marriage, Bobbie and Brian have worked side by side, co-leading the church and raising three children: Joel, Ben, and Laura. Their partnership has been tested publicly, particularly during Brian's legal battles and the couple's subsequent exit from Hillsong. Despite these challenges, they have remained together, launching Jesus Followers TV in 2024 as a new chapter in their ministry.

As of 2026, Bobbie Houston is married to Brian Houston, and the couple continues to minister together. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Bobbie Houston's net worth at $5 million as of 2026, a figure reflecting her decades of ministry leadership and book sales. Her primary income source has been her role as a senior pastor at Hillsong Church, where she and Brian drew salaries from the church's substantial global operations. She has also earned royalties from her books, including The Sisterhood and Stay the Path. Following the couple's departure from Hillsong in 2022, their financial situation shifted significantly. The new ministry, Jesus Followers TV, has publicly appealed for production funding, with reports in 2024 describing the need as "desperate." This suggests that the Houstons' income has decreased since their Hillsong days, though they continue to receive speaking fees and book royalties. Bobbie's net worth has grown modestly over the years, supported by her speaking engagements and the ongoing sales of her books. While specific figures are not publicly documented, her financial standing reflects a lifetime of ministry work rather than personal wealth accumulation.[edit]