Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
Growing up in the Assemblies of God, Lee Sondeno always remembers a rugged wooden cross being prominently placed at the front of the churches he attended, clearly visible to the congregation at all times.
Later, when he began serving in music ministry, he noticed that the cross began to be pushed off to the side, or even removed from the front of the church, replaced with black backdrops, stage sets, or other elements that still spoke of God and His mercy, but without the stark and convicting visual of the cross at the center of it all.
Lee shares how reflecting on his experience of that transition in the congregations he attended led him to a deeper appreciation of the centrality of the sacrifice of Jesus to Christian worship, and why it matters that we don't just refer to the cross as an abstract concept, but that we have a constant visible reminder of what Jesus accomplished for us there.
More of Lee's story: chnetwork.org/journey-home/lee-and-valiree-sondeno-former-pentecostal-music-ministers
The Coming Home Network was established to help inquiring clergy and laity of various faiths -- or even no faith at all -- with fellowship, resources, and encouragement as they explore the possibility of becoming Catholic.
Find out more about our work: chnetwork.org
Join our FREE Online Community: community.chnetwork.org
Facebook: facebook.com/CHNetwork
Twitter: twitter.com/chnetwork
Instagram: instagram.com/cominghomenetwork
Support our mission: chnetwork.org/compass
Growing up in the Assemblies of God, Lee Sondeno always remembers a rugged wooden cross being prominently placed at the front of the churches he attended, clearly visible to the congregation at all times.
Later, when he began serving in music ministry, he noticed that the cross began to be pushed off to the side, or even removed from the front of the church, replaced with black backdrops, stage sets, or other elements that still spoke of God and His mercy, but without the stark and convicting visual of the cross at the center of it all.
Lee shares how reflecting on his experience of that transition in the congregations he attended led him to a deeper appreciation of the centrality of the sacrifice of Jesus to Christian worship, and why it matters that we don't just refer to the cross as an abstract concept, but that we have a constant visible reminder of what Jesus accomplished for us there.
More of Lee's story: chnetwork.org/journey-home/lee-and-valiree-sondeno-former-pentecostal-music-ministers
The Coming Home Network was established to help inquiring clergy and laity of various faiths -- or even no faith at all -- with fellowship, resources, and encouragement as they explore the possibility of becoming Catholic.
Find out more about our work: chnetwork.org
Join our FREE Online Community: community.chnetwork.org
Facebook: facebook.com/CHNetwork
Twitter: twitter.com/chnetwork
Instagram: instagram.com/cominghomenetwork
Support our mission: chnetwork.org/compass
