Hillsong Church founding pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston marked 49 years of marriage on February 19, reflecting on nearly five decades of shared life, ministry and family.
Bobbie Houston commemorated the milestone in a heartfelt social media post, celebrating "49 years of being married ... of loving one another ... of walking together ... of raising family ... of pioneering and building ... of ministry and the immense privilege and honor of championing the heart of God."
The couple first met as young believers at a beach convention in Australia, a providential encounter that would lead not only to marriage but to decades of church leadership and global ministry influence. "We LOVE THE LORD and we're grateful (yet again) for our young lives colliding at a beach convention many years ago," Bobbie wrote, referencing what she described as "sand dunes ... young people ... and providential ice-cream order moments."
Brian and Bobbie Houston co-founded Hillsong Church in 1983 in Sydney, Australia. What began as a small suburban congregation grew into a global megachurch network with campuses across Australia, the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. Hillsong became widely known for its contemporary worship movement, producing globally recognized songs such as "Shout to the Lord," "What a Beautiful Name," and "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)."
In addition to building the church, the Houstons helped launch Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United and Hillsong Young & Free, ministries that significantly shaped modern praise and worship music worldwide. Annual Hillsong Conferences drew tens of thousands of attendees and influenced church worship culture across denominations.
The couple are parents to Joel Houston, Benjamin Houston and their daughter Laura, along with an extended family that includes Esther Houston, Lucille Houston and Peter Toggs. They are also grandparents to Sav, Lexi, Bailey, Blaze, Willow, Jack, Lola and Zion.
In recent years, Hillsong has undergone significant transition following Brian Houston's resignation as global senior pastor in 2022 amid legal proceedings and governance controversies. Since then, Hillsong Church has restructured its leadership under a global board and regional senior pastors.
Despite the organizational changes, Bobbie Houston's anniversary message emphasized gratitude, endurance and faithfulness. "We've walked through pretty much every terrain that life can bring - and here we are - still loving what is of value in this world," she wrote.
The 49-year milestone marks not only a personal celebration for the Houstons but also a moment of reflection on a ministry that has impacted churches and worship communities around the globe.
