The Houston family is coming together in Sydney ahead of Parable Church's first conference, and Bobbie Houston has been sharing the family excitement. In an Instagram post, the Hillsong co-founder said her children Ben and Laura were already together with Laura's husband, Peter Toganivalu. One sibling was still missing from the gathering: Joel Houston.
"The three siblings are nearly all together," Bobbie wrote, adding that they were "just waiting on" Joel to arrive. She also joked that the gathering still needed "the parents," as well as Lucille and Esther Houston. It was a glimpse of the family's preparations, though Bobbie did not say whether she and her husband, Brian Houston, would attend the conference.
The occasion is a major step for Laura and Peter. After years of ministry at Hillsong, the couple planted Parable Church in Sydney in 2024. They now serve as its lead pastors and will host the congregation's inaugural conference from September 30 through October 2 at City Recital Hall.
Joel is expected at the conference as a worship guest, giving the siblings' gathering an added connection to the event itself. Parable's announced lineup also includes fellow UNITED musician Matt Crocker, Elevation Worship's Tiffany Hudson and VOUS Church pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. For those familiar with the Houston family's long association with Hillsong and its music, those names make the new church's first conference particularly striking.
Bobbie's post was affectionate and unmistakably proud. "And YES. We are proud of them all," she wrote before offering a prayer for the Parable Church family. Her message focused on Laura and Peter's milestone and the loved ones gathering around them, with Joel's arrival still to come.
Parable has described its conference as a gathering for worship and teaching that brings local churches together. For Laura and Peter, it is their first opportunity to host an event of this kind under the Parable name. For Bobbie, the anticipation appears more personal: her children are nearly in one place as her daughter and son-in-law prepare to open the doors.
Whether the wider Houston family will all be present remains to be seen. Bobbie's post did, however, leave followers with a scene to watch: Ben and Laura together, Joel on his way, and proud parents cheering from wherever they are when Parable's first conference begins.
