Cleaning Pitzer’s Toilets

Last spring, the Bible study group at Pitzer College (CA) studied Luke 10, the parable of the Good Samaritan. As a Bible study, they wanted to apply the passage in a practical way at Pitzer. How could they love their neighbors on campus?

The idea they came up with was to clean bathrooms. At Pitzer College, unlike the other Claremont Colleges, students are responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms. As a consequence, many bathrooms never get cleaned! Considering the partying that happens on campus, bathrooms can get very disgusting.

Maureen, the leader of the Bible study, sent an email to campus. She announced, “Pitzer Bible Study would like to clean your bathroom as an application to studying the parable of the Good Samaritan.” Within days, she had received 30 requests. Pitzer Bible study has five students in it!

The group jumped in and began cleaning several bathrooms a week. Even before they started cleaning, people had started talking on campus: “Are they really going to clean our bathrooms?” As the Christians have been cleaning, they have overheard conversations: “I used to go to Sunday school as a kid.” “Maybe I will check out the Bible study some time.”

Praise God for the witness of his love and servanthood that is being demonstrated in such a powerful way at Pitzer!

—Lorraine and Chris Harry are InterVarsity staff in Claremont, CA. When they aren’t working, they enjoy playing games, eating out and spending time with their families.