Meet Natalie Storment

We were lucky to catch up with Natalie Storment recently and have shared our conversation below.

Natalie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Purpose reveals itself to you in many forms. For me, my purpose was set into motion when I committed my life to Christ. It would be years before my foundation in Christ would carry me through difficult times. John 10:10 tells us that “the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come so that you may have life and have it abundantly.”
As a pregnant 17-year-old high school senior, I was sure my life was over. Then again as a 23-year-old with a small son, contemplating divorce I thought my future looked far from “abundant”. But God. He uses all the thousands of little decisions and miracles in our lives to provide purpose. Purpose is the reason something exists or is done. I know now looking at the path my life has taken that it was all in His purpose for me. God used all of my mistakes and turned the misery my husband and I faced throughout our lives and helped to prepare us for a ministry. My purpose now is to share this story and raise a new generation who can be equipped with the wisdom to take a different path in life. He must increase and I must decrease. That is the ultimate purpose for my life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

In 2006 the ministry of Power Cross was birthed in our home. My husband had recently accepted Jesus as his savior and began leading our family in a weekly Bible study. Our son TJ, who was drawn to support the young men in his class (3rd grade at that time) that did not have the same home life as he did and ask if the boys from school could also come for Bible study. This Bible study afternoon soon turned into a twice weekly outing where Natalie would assist the young men with their homework and prepare them a home cooked meal, and Jeff would play ball with them after homework was complete. As the weeks went by the number of young men grew. Six months after the first outing, there were forty young men in the Storment’s home being loved and mentored twice a week. It was at this time that Jeff and Natalie were able to see that what they were offering was great, but to make a sustainable impact they would need to do more. Two years into the development of their program Jeff and Natalie Storment left behind their careers, and moved Power Cross from their home to a warehouse in a central location to the young men they serve. This community is in need of a revival and Power Cross believes it can spark that. In 1858, the Western North Carolina Railroad came to Statesville, NC. The tracks that were laid in Statesville are used not only for the transportation of goods, but as a geographic and cultural divide for this city. The historic homes that were once a short walk away from the train depot have now been subsidized as low income housing units. The businesses and mills that once lined the railroad tracks, have closed down leaving only empty shells of factories as a memory of what once was there. These areas are referred to as “The South Side”, “Rabbittown”, and “The Drive”. As businesses in the area shut down, crime and drug use went up. More than 70% of Power Cross participants currently have at least one parent who is incarcerated or is already dead. Given the geographic area the majority of our participants will attend the same high school. From 1990-2010 more than 58% of the young men who played football for this school went on to have a criminal record, 26% became convicted felons, 6 are convicted murderers. Somewhere between the first time they stepped foot onto a ball field and when they stepped into a prison cell the foundation they laid for their lives was one that would not hold the weight of the world. The compass that is guiding this generation is broken. The Power Cross program goal is to help young men establish a solid foundation for their future that will allow them to grow to successful young men, husbands, fathers, businessmen, and leaders of their community. It is often stated that success breeds success and failure breeds’ failure. In a community where the median income is $30,000.00 less than the national average, they are in need of a spark to ignite change. There is a generation of young men who are “10 year old men” and are filling the role of head of household. The United States, in all its glory and promise, leads the world in fatherless homes. This is an epic problem for our society and the future of this country. Power Cross has developed many program elements to allow the organization to have a far expanding reach into the local community and beyond. We tie together the natural love of athletics and their competitive nature and balance it with love, discipline, accountability and support. We provide nourishment for their souls and nourish their bodies and minds daily with free, hot meals and academic development. Power Cross utilizes athletics as a bait to draw kids into their program, from the future impact is priceless! Power Cross currently has one campus in Statesville, NC and one campus in Salisbury, NC. We serve over 350 young men annually. We have plans to expand to a third campus by early 2027.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Light is a tricky subject. When you hope to bring light to a dark place it can be perceived two ways. The first is offensive, downright hurtful. Think of a time when you were asleep and a bright light was turned on in that room. Your natural instinct is to cover your eyes, to keep the light out. In reality we need the light. Light nourished our body and provided us the opportunity to move forward and recognize danger. Scripture tells us that Jesus is a “light unto our path, a lamp upon our feet.” Staying focused on the light guiding us on the right path has been one of the most impactful decisions of our journey as missionaries. This is a daily decision. It is very easy to get distracted but those who see your light as offensive. Consider the source of the issues you are having. Then consider the source of the calling. Let the calling outweigh the critiques. Stay grounded in your purpose. Pray for provision. This is no recipe for complete success and comfort. In fact, it’s likely the opposite. Your level of comfort is often determined by your level of sacrifice. When one is greater the other is less. You choose each day to be comfortable or to be confident in the sacrifices God had entrusted you with.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

I am a reader and a learner. I love to do both! The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian has impacted my marriage dramatically, which in turn impacted our family and this ministry. Good to Great by Jim Collins provides framework for not settling on Good when God has Great for you. These are both awesome books, but the ultimate book of wisdom is the Holy Bible. For 200 years straight the Bible has been the bestselling book in the world. It’s the bestselling book of all time. What makes the Bible so unique? It’s alive! The word speaks to you differently at seasons of your life. The Bible is truly the book of life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.powercross.org
• Instagram: @powercrossministry personal- @the.steadfast.storments
• Facebook: @powercrossministry
• Youtube: Power Cross Ministry