A business run on biblical values

By Sue Hendey BBC Dorset

Sasha Morgan is a Christian businesswoman from Broadstone near Poole and has run a driving school for the past 17 years.

Sasha aims to run her business on biblical values.

Two years ago Sasha went in search of a support group designed to bring Christian managers together but could not find one.

Now she is the co-founder of the Dorset Christian Business Fellowship which is open to people of all faiths.

Sasha has built her business on biblical values.

Sasha says: "I think it's important when you're a person of faith.

"Your faith permeates every area of your life and that includes not just your personal life, but also your working life.

"In the book of Acts [in the Bible] most of the miracles take place in the market place.

"The Bible itself was very much focussed on people and where they were - and where are people? People spend most of their time in the workplace."

God's frontline troops

Sasha tries to run her business, New Driver School of Motoring, on biblical values.

She says: "There's the old acronym - 'what would Jesus do?'. My values very much come from my faith, which is my belief in Jesus Christ, so I need to model my life on how He modelled His life.

"It doesn't mean that we're doormats and we let everyone walk all over us and owe us money.

"I think in business and the marketplace Christians are God's frontline troops. God wants to have a voice in every section of society and He wants us to stand out and take up our place."

Setting up the DCBF was a big challenge for Sasha.

Learning curve

As Sasha explains, working to a set of Christian values does not come without its problems.

She says: "Running a business is hard enough itself, but when you're trying to do it to a set of values that are occasionally at odds with society, then that's when a group like this [Dorset Christian Business Fellowship] can be quite supportive.

"You can chat to other people and discuss whether they've had a similar situation and how they handled it."

All encompassing

Setting up the Dorset Christian Business Fellowship was in itself a big challenge for Sasha.

She says: "When we [she and her husband] first started the group we weren't even sure whether anybody would turn up, but we've been very lucky.

"We've been running the group now for two years and we've had all sorts of trades and professions coming along.

"For instance we've got a stockbroker, a restaurant owner, solicitor, accountant - you name it, we've got all sorts.

"We're non denominational, so it's for members of all faiths."

Driving instructor Jim is glad he can combine his beliefs with work.

The Sabbath

Sasha likes to think that her driving school does not discriminate, so long as everyone understands the importance of the Christian faith to the business.

She says: "We do have some Christian driving instructors, but I would say that the majority of our people are not Christians. Having said that, we do foist some of our views on them - we don't open our office up on a Sunday.

"We certainly believe in the concept of having a day off - that's very important to us."

Jim Gurvan is a devout Christian and is also one of Sasha's approved driving instructors in Broadstone, near Poole.

Jim is glad that his beliefs and values help to shape his working life, as well as his social life.

He says: "I've always had some sort of connection with Christianity through my work. I used to work for the YMCA for a long time and now I work here.

"[Generally] lots of people are in it [business] for the money - as much money as they can possibly make - but that's not what the Christian faith is about. It's about having enough faith in God and knowing that He will provide all you need.

"You can be extremely rich, but you might not be very happy [without faith], but if you have the Christian faith you'll be very happy, but you won't be very rich."

A better instructor?

So, does Jim believe that his faith makes him a better instructor to his pupils, by way of the knowledge and teachings he delivers?

Jim says: "They might not use it straight away, but they'll remember what I've said to them and they may use it in future references."

And do Christians like to trade with other Christians?

Sasha says: "There is a publication called the Christian Business Directory where members do advertise themselves as Christians and there are people who very much like to trade with [fellow] Christians.

"I mean obviously there are no guarantees. Christians are fallible people the same as everybody else.

"There are no guarantees that you're going to get a better job or a cheaper job if you trade with Christians."

Think outside the box

Sasha also believes that only trading and socialising with people of the same faith can be quite limiting.

She says: "There can be that tendency to be quite insular because it's safe, it's secure, it's nice to deal with like minded people.

"I think Jesus makes it very clear in the bible: 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven' - so how can we do that if we're just insular?

"I think we're challenged to go out there and be with people who don't necessarily share our faith.

"If they can see the way we handle ourselves and the decision making processes, then maybe we're doing justice to that particular Bible passage - Matthew 5:16."