Michigan—If you memorized one verse from the Bible every day for six years you still wouldn't have as much text under your belt as Susan Joshua. On April 16, she was presented with the Johnston Bible Memorization Award for the fifth time at the Andrews Awards Assembly, bringing her total verses memorized to 2,500.

The award, given out during the Andrews Awards Assembly each spring, was founded by Madeline Johnston and named in honor of her husband Robert, upon his retirement from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.

Susan, whose husband Calvin is studying at Andrews University, initially began memorizing texts for her debut attempt at the award in 2004. At first, her efforts were based on a misunderstanding of the contest. Calvin, who worked as a janitor, told Susan about fliers announcing what appeared to be a $750 prize for memorizing 500 Bible verses. Five hundred memory verses later, Calvin reluctantly reported to his wife he had misread the flier. The $750 referred to a different award. The Johnston Bible Memorization Award offered a free Bible as a prize.

The next time the contest came, Susan entered with no thought of a cash reward as a motive. She memorized a second set of 500 verses in 2006 and went on to win the award again in 2007 and 2008—an additional 500 each time. Susan describes the "satisfaction of having the Word of God hidden in my heart" as one of the most rewarding parts of what she does.

Although 2,500 verses is an impressive feat, it was not Susan's first experience with lengthy memorization. While she was living in India, she says, "I took up the challenge of memorizing Psalm 119." Susan was asked to recite it—the longest chapter in the Bible—during the worship hour.

Susan describes her reason for memorizing Scripture as an effort to "stay comforted and close to God." In India, the Joshua family lived in the isolated Himalayas. While her husband was away doing Bible work, Susan was at home by herself. Scripture memorization became a source of consolation.

In addition to solitude, writing the text in a journal, recording her voice and listening to it helped her commit verses to memory. Susan's preferred translation is the King James Version. As a former English teacher in India, she appreciates the old language.

Calvin and Susan plan to return to India in August.

Andre Weston, student intern, Office of Integrated Marketing & Communication, Andrews University