Pastor Claudiu Popescu is one of the longest-serving ministers in the Scottish Mission. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Theology in Austria in 2004, followed by an MA in Systematic Theology at Newbold College in 2007. Pastor Claudiu served in the Irish Mission from 2007 until 2013, when he moved to Scotland. Up until this summer, he served as the Youth Sponsor for the Scottish Mission (SM) for nearly 11 years. Since 2022, he has been the pastor of the Glasgow and East Kilbride churches.
Although ministry is his main passion, he is also an avid mountaineer. In a few days, Pastor Claudiu will embark on a 35-day expedition to the Himalayas. During a special Mountaintop Conversation, he shared insights from his life as a mountaineer.
Q: John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling, and I must go”. When did you first discover your passion for mountaineering?
A: I think it started quite early, during my Adventurer and Pathfinders years. Growing up in Romania, I lived near the mountains, and most of our activities took place outdoors with leaders who loved pushing our physical boundaries.
Q: Can you recall when you embarked on your first expedition, and what was that experience like?
A: I believe it was during the summer of 1991, in Retezat National Park (Romania), at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. The expedition lasted about 10 days as we were all quite young, around 10 to 14 years old. I remember having several frightening encounters with bears, but we made it to the top safely.
Q: Despite having such a dangerous and frightening first experience taking on the mountains, you continued to pursue your passion. That takes a lot of courage! What other experiences have you had that further solidified your love for the outdoor activities?
A: In 1997, I moved to Austria, and the mighty Alps marked a new chapter and challenge for me. I was fortunate to be part of a church and youth group that loved outings and exploration. Most Sundays, regardless of the weather, we were always doing something. Summer holidays couldn’t come soon enough for me to conquer another peak or attend a “survival camp”, where we had to prepare food found in the forest for several days. As I continued to explore the mountains, I embarked on expeditions to climb Grossvenediger (3,666 m), Wildspitze (3,770 m), and Grossglockner (3,798 m). My curiosity then expanded to mountains in other countries, including Tofana di Rozes (3,225 m) in the Dolomites, Mont Blanc (4,800 m) in the French Alps, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,900 m) in Tanzania, and Mount Toubkal (4,167 m) in Morocco.
Q: Mark Udall said “You don’t climb mountains without a team, you don’t climb mountains without being fit, you don’t climb mountains without being prepared and you don’t climb mountains without balancing the risks and rewards. And you never climb a mountain by accident - it has to be intentional.” What does a typical day look like when you’re on an expedition?
A: Things are usually straightforward; however, it all depends on the terrain, altitude, and weather. During an expedition, the advantage is that you have a guide and one or two porters or sherpas (depending on the group) who are invaluable in carrying all the necessary gear for the duration of the trip. We typically carry between 10 to 15 kg.
The day usually starts early with breakfast and a briefing about the route we will follow. After that, we spend 6 to 8 hours trekking and climbing as needed, with a few breaks along the way. To finish the day, we set up our tents, cook dinner, and go to sleep early. As we ascend, the lack of oxygen, wind, snow, and lower temperatures begin to take their toll...
Q:It seems so easy, almost like “a walk in the park,” but we know that’s not the case. Achieving the level of comfort you describe during an expedition takes hours of training, perseverance, courage, determination, and perhaps a healthy dose of stubbornness to push yourself and be fit for the challenges that may arise. What were some of the scariest moments you experienced during your expeditions?
A: I can recall many difficult scenarios, but one that still gives me goosebumps happened during one of my first camps with the church Pathfinders in the Carpathian Mountains. One night, two bears "visited" our camp in search of food and started tearing apart some tents. We were all terrified and began to scream. It seemed that the young bears were intimidated by our shouting and left; otherwise, the story could have ended very differently.
Another frightening experience occurred in 2003 in the French Alps when I attempted to reach Mont Blanc. A sudden avalanche claimed the lives of about four people at a higher camp, just 500 meters above where I was. The ferocious sound of snow, stones, and ice is still etched in my memory.
Q:Yet, despite these memories, you continue to take on new heights. Sir Martin Conway said, “Each fresh peak ascended teaches something.” What have the mountains taught you, and what gifts have they given you?
A: Through my previous expeditions, I have developed valuable life skills that have served as building blocks in my life, including leadership, resilience, decision-making, financial management, cultural sensitivity, self-motivation, and real-world experience. Additionally, travelling with others – some of whom I knew and some I didn’t – provides an opportunity to establish close bonds among teammates and create lifelong memories and friendships. For example, a friend I made during my expedition on Mount Toubkal in Morocco in 2022 is joining me in Nepal with his girlfriend.
Another positive aspect of high-altitude expeditions is the amazing views above the clouds, an experience that not everyone gets the chance to enjoy.
Q: Vanessa Gendoma said, “The best view comes after the hardest climb”. Taking on the Himalayas in Nepal for your upcoming expedition seems to be your most challenging trek to date. What can you tell us about this one?
A:I will be embarking on a 35-day expedition through the Himalayas in September/October 2024. My goal is to reach Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m, followed by an attempt to summit Mera Peak at 6,476 m (claimed to be the highest trekking peak in the world). I will then challenge myself to reach Mt. Pumori at 7,161 m (one of the most difficult peaks above 7,000 m due to its Grade 3 technical sections).
Some of the challenges will include safely landing at Lukla, which has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to its high elevation and short runway; traversing part of the Khumbu Icefall, a slow-moving river of ice that gives rise to deep crevasses needing to be bridged with ladders; crossing high suspension bridges; navigating challenging uphill and downhill trails; and trekking on the demanding route to the Mera Glacier, to name a few.
Some of the rewards will be experiencing stunning 360-degree views of Himalayan peaks, including the Everest region – featuring Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Kusum Kanguru, Tawache, Kunde, and other small snow-capped peaks – as well as the chance to spot musk deer, pheasants, and possibly Himalayan tahr.
Q: Though mountaineering is one of your passions, you have often shared that your main passion is ministry. Why is this expedition particularly special to you, and how does it relate to your calling in life, especially in your current role as the Pastor of Glasgow and East Kilbride Churches?
A: The Glasgow Church’s worship space has become too small for the number of members and visitors who gather there every Sabbath, often resulting in insufficient seating during the worship service. The building is quite old and requires many repairs, including a leaking roof, an inadequate heating system, outdated kitchen and toilet facilities, and insufficient space to host Children’s, Teen, and Youth Bible School classes or other programmes.
The members of Glasgow Church have embarked on a fundraising campaign over the past few years with the goal of raising £250,000, which is the required contribution before receiving additional grants to purchase a new building or remodel the existing one. The Himalayan Expedition is a personal initiative to enhance our fundraising efforts for the rebuilding of Glasgow Church.
Through the support of others via my GoFundMe campaign, we hope to move closer to our goal of fundraising for a new church building, which aims to:
- Provide a more comfortable worship space for our ever-growing Seventh-day Adventist community in Glasgow.
- Create areas where children, teens, and youth can have their own Bible study programmes and activities designed to help them grow into strong Christians, both during the week and on Sabbath.
- Become a Centre of Influence for the Glasgow community, accommodating health clubs, cooking classes, seminars, lunch clubs, toddler groups, counselling and support groups, and a community Christian gospel choir to meet the needs of those around us, with the aim of advancing the Gospel Commission in one of the most secular cities in Europe.
Pastor Claudiu, in the words of Harley King, “May your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to scale their summits!”
To support Pastor Claudiu Popescu to achieve his fundraising target for Glasgow Church, please visit https://gofund.me/bdc7c413
