Heather Johnson serves as a full-time CCWM missionary in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She grew up in Rockford, Illinois, graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago with a degree in Intercultural Studies and originally planned to move to the Middle East.
But after an internship with Flourishing Future—a Mongolian ministry serving vulnerable families and orphans—God redirected her heart.
She returned to Mongolia after graduating in 2014 and spent four years teaching English at an orphanage before moving to Atlanta to complete her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Richmont Graduate University, specializing in trauma counseling.
In 2022, Heather returned to Mongolia with CCWM. She began by training children’s workers and counseling teenagers at the same shelter where she had once taught English.
In 2024, she became the Executive Director of Flourishing Future NGO, the very organization where her journey in Mongolia first began. Along with her work as director she also serves as a remote counselor with The Well International, supporting other missionaries around the world.
What is Flourishing Future, and what does Heather do as Executive Director?
Flourishing Future (FF) is a Mongolian NGO founded in 2001 that walks alongside vulnerable families in the city’s ger district—impoverished outskirts where many households face cycles of addiction, poverty, and instability. Today, FF focuses primarily on families with teenagers, helping them build healthy relationships, develop life skills, cope with challenges, and grow within a safe and caring community environment. This is done through weekly small groups, monthly trainings, family visits, and other community events.
As Executive Director, Heather focuses on creating a healthy, supportive environment for her Mongolian staff so they can confidently serve as social workers and mentors in the community. Her responsibilities range from vision casting and team support to meeting with local leaders and updating policies. She strives to be a learner by staying curious about the families themselves in order to understand what they need to flourish.
If you had told her ten years ago that she would still be living in Mongolia—let alone directing the ministry, she never would have believed it.
Mongolia is both beautiful and challenging. Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital in the world and experiences extreme air pollution most of the year.
The community where Heather serves lacks plumbing, indoor bathrooms, and paved roads. Everyday tasks—like grocery shopping or getting paperwork signed—can be unpredictable and unexpectedly difficult due to the developing nature of the country and things often do not go according to plan. As one of the few Americans in the area, she receives attention everywhere she goes.
It’s important for Heather to share the genuine struggles but also the joys of living in Mongolia. Mongolia has some of the most beautiful nature in the world and you can drive for hours and see no one but the occasional herder. Mongolian culture is so rich and unique that even after almost eight years in total, it never gets boring and there is always something new to learn. Mongolians are extremely generous and hospitable and once a Mongolian becomes your friend, they quickly become your family.
To recharge, Heather often heads to the countryside to hike, picnic, or explore with friends. She might be found trying to learn something new like Mongolian traditional dance or exploring a new coffeeshop with a friend. But during dark and cold winters you can usually find her reading at home or enjoying a Korean drama with her two adopted cats. One day, Heather hopes to write a book about her years in Mongolia and the many ways she has experienced God at work.
THE REASON HE STAYED - A CCWM Story From The Field
TO THE ONES - A CCWM Story From The Field
DO I LOOK LIKE A FOREIGNER? - A CCWM Story From The Field
THE ONLY ONE SPINNING IS ME - A CCWM Story From The Field
THE AGITATOR - A CCWM Story From The Field
Wisdom in Leadership – Pray for clarity, humility, and discernment as Heather guides the Flourishing Future team and makes decisions that shape the direction of the ministry.
A Healthy Mongolian Staff – Pray for unity, encouragement, and growth among the FF staff serving families in the ger district and that they would feel supported, empowered and equipped.
Insight Into Community Needs – Pray that Heather and the team would clearly understand what the teenagers and families need to flourish and give them the creativity and resources to meet those needs well.
Strong Partnerships and Provision – Pray for fruitful relationships with local leaders and open doors for ministry, as well as the financial resources needed for Flourishing Future to serve families well.
Teens and Families- Lift up the young people FF serves—pray for safety, healing from trauma, freedom from cycles of poverty and addiction, and lives shaped by hope.
Grace and Renewal in Daily Life – Lift up the practical realities of life and ministry in Mongolia and pray for Heather’s resilience, protection, and moments of rest and joy amid her counseling and leadership work.
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