For American Christians, it can be all too easy to forget how God has blessed us so much with our country. Despite all the problems and issues our nation is undergoing, we still have the freedom to be Christians. We do not face life or death persecution for our faith on a daily basis. However, there are many people, Christians, who are faced with certain death if they are found out to be Christians. Many of us here at Lipscomb have no idea what it’s really like to face such harsh persecution because of our faith. There are some students on campus, however, who do know first hand. Here is one of Lipscomb’s own and her story on what that kind of Christian life is like.
Shaman Alavi grew up and lived in Iran until four years ago when her family, in her own words, miraculously moved out of Iran and settled in the Nashville area. Shaman’s childhood for the most part was not all that different from a typical young American. She grew up with her mom and dad and younger brother, and as a young girl, she spent her time going to school and moving from town to town depending on her father’s work. Her father was a doctor and frequently moved from city to city to help provide care for those in low income areas.
Iran, however, for the past 30 years, has been subject to an Islamic Republic. In this type of government citizens are to follow Islamic Law, and over the years, this government has stripped away freedoms Iranians previously enjoyed before the Islamic take-over in 1979.
“There is no freedom. In Iran you don’t have freedom of speech or religion,” Shaman said. “You can’t speak against the Islamic government at all, and in the schools, there is no opportunity to learn about Christ.”
This is one of the primary differences between growing up in America and growing up in Iran.
As a young girl, Shaman was introduced to Christianity by her mother, who for some time had been going to underground Christian churches in secrecy. Shaman’s mother would teach her all she knew about Christianity and Jesus but only in the confines of their home. Had word gotten out about their Christian faith, the ultimate result would have been death.
“We had a Bible,” Shaman said, “but it was hard because you really don’t want people to know. They can tell on you.”
Shaman’s mother in 2006 had a life-changing dream one night. She dreamed that she was in a place somewhat like a mall surrounded with a lot of very friendly people. She asked the people where she was, and they told her America. The next morning Shaman’s mother immediately told her husband of the dream and felt it was a sign that they should try to defeat the impossible odds and make their way to America. At first, Shaman’s father was very hesitant in attempting to leave Iran. He felt that it would be too difficult and just impossible. Shaman’s mother was imploring, however, that they attempt to apply for the U.S.A. Green Card Lottery. Every year this program randomly awards 50,000 applicants across the world the chance to live, study and work in the United States. It wasn’t until the actual due date for the application that the Alavis took a chance and applied. One year after applying at the U.S. embassy in Dubai, the Alavis were informed they had won. Finally, after years of religious persecution and prevention from civil liberties, their time of subjection to the tyrannical Islamic law would come to an end.
Even winning the Green Card lottery does not always make the process of getting to the United States easier, especially coming from Iran. The Alavis had God on their side, however, and had no problems. They sold everything and left Iran in just two weeks after winning.
Currently the Alavis happily reside in Nashville, and through phone calls, they keep in touch with relatives still in Iran. Shaman’s father works for a leading environmental testing firm in the United States, TestAmerica, and is also working toward becoming a doctor once again. Her mother stays at home and raises her younger brother. As for herself, Shaman is studying to be a pharmacist.
“To me the whole process was a miracle,” Shaman said. “All the little things, God worked through them. I just feel so blessed to be here. If I had stayed there, I wouldn’t have any kind of freedom, have the opportunity to learn about the Bible like I can or be able to worship and tell others about God.”
It is so often forgotten how truly blessed we are to be born in America. We must always remember God’s blessing and pray for those who face persecution like Shaman and her family did. Even after interviewing Shaman, I still can’t quite fathom living in a place where being a Christian could very well end your life.