It is not hard to imagine that many believers, "political prisoners", are locked up inside Kwan-li-so No. 14, Kaechon-kun, in South Pyong-an Province. Read and weep with your brothers and sisters as they experience horrors few have had to even imagine.

This camp, according to eyewitness Kim Yong, is in the mountains. Its area is about 600 square miles (20 x 30). There are maybe 15,000 prisoners there (Kim was there in 1995-96).

Mining, farming, livestock are the occupations of the slave laborers. Many want to farm so that they can steal animal food and pick through their droppings for undigested grain. Otherwise meal times mean 20-30 kernels of corn and watery cabbage soup.

Unfortunately Kim is assigned to the coal mines, where he meets skinny discolored prisoners who seem to be nothing but soot-covered cartoon stickmen. Two years of this, seeing nothing but the insides of mine shafts, and at night barracks containing 50 persons per room. His supervisor is a man who dares to believe that Kim Jong Il should not be the ruler of North Korea. How many more will be in this camp when they are honest?

Many prisoners die of malnutrition and disease during his stay there. None of the common public executions occur, but up to 25 are executed by guards privately. Like for example pitiful Kim Chul Min, shot for collecting ripe chestnuts without authorization. And Kal Li Yong, who "died after having his mouth smashed by a feces-covered stick" for stealing a leather whip, soaking it in water, and then eating the softened leather."

Even more deaths are attributable to mining accidents than to executions.

How wimpy and foolish I feel after I share these tragic stories with you. What shall Americans offer to God of value on the Day when He through Jesus judges the House of God? Beautiful stains on church windows? A comfortable pew? Sink-in carpet? Huge collections of instruments? An awesome sound system? A cathedral?

Who will be able finally to lay down the cross he has borne, at the feet of an understanding Jesus? Or are America's church aisles already strewn with abandoned crosses ?