Hillsong celebrates womanhood at 12th annual Colour Your World conference

The Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, erupted in a chorus of celebration on Wednesday night as thousands of women filled the arena for the opening of Hillsong's 12 annual Colour Your World Women's Conference.

The conference coincides with the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day today, bringing together women from 36 nations, and guest speakers from the UK, America, and Australia, to celebrate the value of womanhood and see justice brought to those in need around the world.

"There is no place on earth like the Church that can gather the wounded, the broken and the blessed. I believe that God wants to increase our lives and see the Church rise up," Colour Conference founder and Hillsong's co-senior pastor, Bobbie Houston said in her opening night address.

"In this room we have the blessed and the broken. If we can govern our hearts in our blessedness and our brokenness, I believe we can create a place which accommodates both. We can be women that accommodate a place where everyone is welcome," she said.

"We are living in days where the church is rising, with all her diversity; rising and beginning to find her voice, stature, and unity.

"Some of you have come into this arena and encountered something and you can't define it. Let me tell you it's the presence of God. Tonight, this arena is the House of God!"

The powerful opening night was followed by an exciting second day, as women came expectant and excited. Louie Giglio from the US shared an inspirational message about the greatness of God. This was followed by powerful teaching from the UK's J John and Priscilla Shirer, new to the Colour platform, shared about creating a God awareness in your everyday life.

Saturday, the final day of the conference, will be dedicated to issues of social justice, as women are challenged about the great need in the world, and effectively equipped to bring help and answers to the planet's most vulnerable.

* Colour Your World Conference runs from 6 - 8 March in the Acer Arena, Sydney, 1 -2 May, London and 26 -28 May, Kiev, Ukraine.