Imagine being stabbed thirty-nine times at the age of eleven and watching your mother being murdered as you lay defenseless nearby.
At the age of eleven Fredric Almond Sr. had to face a horrific event that left him on the floor bleeding from being stabbed approximately thirty-nine times. The situation changed his entire life as a young boy. With courage, perseverance, and willingness, he overcame the scar that scarred him for life. He has appeared on the 700 Club, I survived (Season 5 Episode 42) and other media.
Interview- Fredric Almond, Author and SpeakerScarred for Life, Scarred to Survive: the Aftermath (Tate Publishing)
CWL would like to thank you for taking a few minutes out of your schedule to share with us one of the most horrific events a person could experience as a child. Please share with us your story.
Hello CWL, thank you and Praise God for the opportunity to tell my story. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles, California. During the summer we were going through transition. These were exciting times. I just completed the sixth grade, we were moving into our first house through section eight and puberty was kicking in. It took several weeks to get situated but we accomplished the mission. Summer was practically over and I started to get my mind prepared for a new school year. I couldn’t wait! Labor Day was the last weekend before summer was over. Mom would always get the family together. It was a going back to school celebration. We always had a good time. Needless- to-say it couldn’t have been a nicer day of the year. It was about seventy-five degrees, no clouds and a nice cool breeze that hovered over every few minutes.During that night I started getting my outfit ready for school. The first day of school was vital. If I didn’t coordinate the proper attire then I would’ve left a bad impression on the girls and I couldn’t deal with that (smile). Needless-to-say it took about an hour to ensure I was properly ready. Then I went to bed sound asleep with a smile.Unexpectedly, I heard my mother screaming. I jumped up and ran in her room and seen a man of slender build, towering over my mother in the dark with a knife in his hand. Immediately, I said, “Jesus!” and he turned around and start chasing after me with his knife. She attempted to fight him off of me from the rear. He then turned around and went back stabbing her. Everything was happening so fast. I ran away and ended up in the closet. I didn’t know too much about prayer but I began to talk to God. I said, “Jesus, help me, Jesus, help me, I want to live, I don’t want to die.” I said this continuously for at least five to ten minutes while hearing my mother scream and fighting off this attacker. After the prayer I received enough confidence to get help. Meanwhile, Mom was in the dining room fighting off the burglar. I began to sneak down the hallway to see what was going on. I noticed the phone on the floor at the end of the hallway. So I picked it up and tried and tried to dial for help but there was no dial tone. Eventually the burglar noticed me and he charged at me with his knife and started stabbing on me with all his might. He stabbed me approximately thirty-nine times in the face, back, neck, arm and foot. Mom eventually got up from her injuries, ran after him to protect me. He threw her off and went back and forth stabbing her and me until there was no movement and it was an evil quietness that filled the room.There I lay on the floor in my own pool of blood looking at my mother from across the living room. My eyes remained open the entire time. I was acting as if I were dead. Mom stopped moving and all you could hear were the sounds of the knife going in and out of her body over and over again. Even though she was dead, he stabbed her a few more times just to ensure she was dead. There was nothing else I could do but just lay there and watch. It seemed so unreal as if it was a movie or a bad dream but this was the reality of my life being a new believer.I was so close to death. Many were unsure that I would remain alive. Even though I was eleven years old as a Christian, the devil attempted to destroy my very existence of living life. Since he couldn’t kill me, he tried to kill my spirit. Other family and friends could only do much but I had to believe and trust God myself. I fought and pushed even when I wanted to quit. The doctor said I wouldn’t talk or walk anymore but I refused to accept defeat.After the hospital experience, I battled within and felt like God forsook me. Bitterness and un-forgiveness was very close to my heart. At times I was insecure and scared to be alone. I was tormented with fear. Nighttime became my battle ground. Many times I would tip toe to the window looking around for intruders. My daytime battle ground was junior high school. Numerous times kids ridiculed me because of my scars. Not only was I scarred physically, I was scarred mentally and spiritually. I was like humpty dumpty who sat on the wall. He eventually fell and was broken into pieces and only by the assistance of others he was put back together again. My life was similar. I fell and my heart was shattered. No one quite knew how to put me back together again but God. Yes, this was an impossible task but my God works best in the impossible. Today I am a new man because of God’s grace and unmerited favor.
Can you minister to CWL readers about forgiveness and what scriptures you meditate on to get you through the day?
Matthew 6:14-15 say, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you, But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 26:41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
1 Cor 10:12-13 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. That’s as clear cut as you can get it. Forgiveness is easy. We make it difficult because we have come up with our own rules on forgiveness instead of following the Word of God. If we keep it simple and let it go, it will alleviate the drama. We sometimes feel like, if I forgive then I have no power over the person. If I forgive then that means I’m soft. If I forgive, without the person apologizing first then that makes me weak.
The flesh will interfere with forgiveness because it’s weak. Therefore in order to forgive properly, it must be in the Spirit. Once we are led by the Spirit to forgive, God takes the pain out of the scarred area and produces fruit. Once the fruit of forgiveness is produced and given outwardly, it will produce even greater fruit. There are levels of forgiveness that we have not reached yet. In order to get to the next level of forgiveness we have to continue to act out in forgiveness. God can’t bless us like he desires to because we hold on to past hurts too much, make too many excuses and have no trust in the God capability that he placed in us. Instead we need to trust God and just let it go. It will free us from any trap and will cause us to accomplish more and fulfill more. Jesus came in the world, died and was resurrected that we might be rich and live a satisfying life (read John10:10). God never intended for us to remain stuck. If we say we love Him then we have to trust him with everything: hurts, pains, discouragements, failures, bitterness, un-forgiveness. etc… Forgiveness is not hard but takes endurance. For example, “I forgive the man that killed my mother and stabbed me. Yet I live with the scar, the defeat of the scar is removed.” Now that I have forgiven, I act out in forgiveness that I may please God.
Lastly, my intent to forgive is not only to please God but I refuse to allow my life to end on that horrific day (no future, no desire, no ambition, and no press, scarred and defeated). I am determined to reverse the tragedy into a victory! I am persuaded to honor my mother’s life in me. I also feel the weight of other souls that are battling with their scarred situation and can’t get passed it. I live to tell my story to encourage. With the help of God I aim to inspire others to let go of their hurt, get up and move on in Jesus name. If I can do it, you can too!
Tell the readers more about your books and how they can purchase them along with how you can be contacted.
My book Scarred for life: stabbed thirty-nine times and forgave was written from the heart and with many tears. This book is another tool to be used for inspiration. I go in depth of what I had to experience and how God brought me out. I give words of wisdom to gain strength from. I also encourage the reader to go deeper within their own Spirit and unlock hidden power that is waiting to be released. The books can be purchased on-line at www.scarred2live.com and various major book stores: Barnes and Noble, Borders, Family Christian Book Store, Heaven and Earth, etc… I can be contacted via email: fredricalmond@scarred2live.com, or mail: P.O. Box 4828, Fort Eustis, VA 23604 and my website is www.scarred2live.com.
Thank you once again for sharing your story, thoughts, and words of wisdom to remind us how forgiveness can take us to another level in God. May God bless you and your family always.
Fredric,
I praise God for preserving your life and your living to give God the glory. Thanks for sharing your story and giving all scarred people hope. Thanks Danetta for featuring such an intriguing story. God bless you both.
Thank you Rhonda and I know he would appreciate the kind words also.
Priase the Lord Rhonda, thank you for the words of encouragement. We never know what God can do in our lives until we let go and let God. I encourage you as well to go after your purpose and don’t let nothing stop you! God bless!
I am totally speechless at the horror-In awe of your survival, and floored by GODS grace. May GOD continue to bless you and heal others by your testimony.
Thank you for the words of encouragement. this is the season to forgive and to go after our purpose like never before. God has given us what it takes to reach areas of ministry that the odds were against us based upon what we’ve gone through. However, God works best in the impossible. Have a great day in the Lord!!!
I am so blessed to have read this article, to see GOD’s faithfulness during a time when the adversary came to steal, kill, and destroy. God took what the enemy meant for bad and brought good…LIFE! I am so thankful for the testimony of the life of Fredric in showing that we will experience some things that are life-altering, but if we choose God’s way He will make our life-changed. God Bless you Deneatta and Fredric!