I was born in a Swiss salvationist family. My parents were officers. As a young adult, I studied biology at the University of Lausanne, and later, after 6 years of intensive research on the effect of ozone on the growth of maize, I obtained a doctorate in Sciences there (1992). During my time as a student, God called my wife Nathalie and me to enter officership in The Salvation Army. Much later, after 15 years of corps ministry, I had an experience that, for me, was a call from God to study theology at an academic level. I did these extra-occupational studies at the University of Geneva, with a few semesters at the University of Basel. After corps ministry, we were appointed to lead the Training College and later to lead Church work at the territorial level. Currently, I serve as secretary for spiritual life development, combined with a very special position: theological and scientific advisor to The Salvation Army Switzerland, Austria and Hungary. I enjoy reading (of course) and cycling.
Nathalie is also appointed at THQ in Bern. She offers support to the corps in developing resources for Women’s and Seniors’ Ministry. Before becoming an officer, Nathalie studied Ergotherapy in Lausanne and worked two years as an occupational therapist in an institution of The Salvation Army near Lake Geneva. At the moment, she travels a lot, teaching about ageing and spiritual life. Every year before Christmas, she’s fully engaged in the Angel Tree Programme, which brings beautiful Christmas gifts to more than 1000 children in Switzerland.
We have 6 adult children and 7 grand children.
Jean-Marc Flückiger 