Inside Story

Miracle Money in Brazil

Tarsis Gomes was a 19-year-old student. Every month his father gave him 50 Brazilian real. A real is Brazilian money, the same as a dollar. At that time, one real was worth one US dollar. Tarsis gave 5 real to God for tithe. Tithe is 10% of all the money we get. Then Tarsis paid 5 real for offering. He had 40 real left for school expenses.

That Sabbath, Tarsis gave tithe and offering in church. Then a friend asked Tarsis to help him buy new tires for his wheelchair. Tarsis said, “Sure, I’ll give you 20 real.”

Then a second friend, Jairo, also asked for help. Jairo sang in a group that visited churches in Brazil. The group needed money for lodging. Tarsis said, “I’ll give you 20 real.”

A few days later, Tarsis got in line at an ATM to get money to pay for school expenses. His sister, also a student, was with him. He remembered he promised 40 real to his two friends. He prayed, “Lord, how can I keep my ­promises to help my two friends? If I help them, I can’t study. And how can I help anyone else if I don’t get an education? What will Father say when I tell him I spent all the money he gave me for school expenses?”

Right then, Tarsis thought God said to him, “Look at the ATM.”

Tarsis looked up and saw money sticking out of the ATM’s cash slot! Someone walked up to the ATM and took out some money. But the money that God showed him stayed in the slot! Tarsis couldn’t believe it. There were many people in line in front of him. Tarsis prayed, “Lord, if the next three people who use the ATM don’t see that money, I’ll know You want me to have it.”

The next three people in line got money from the ATM. But no one took the money from the slot that God showed to Tarsis.

With a prayer, Tarsis got out of line and went to the ATM. He held out his hand and pulled a 50-real banknote out of the money slot. Everyone watched Tarsis in surprise. Later, his sister said he looked as if he pulled money out of the air!

Tarsis couldn’t believe it. He was shaking. His sister came up to him and asked, “Where did you find that money?”

Tarsis said, “Right here. The money was just sticking out of the ATM.”

His sister said, “No way. How come I didn’t see it?”

Today, Tarsis is a 42-year-old military police officer in Recife, Brazil. People ask Tarsis why God gave him only 50 real. Tarsis says, “Because I didn’t help more people. God gave me what I needed to help the people I promised to help.” The 50 real was exactly what Tarsis needed: 5 real for tithe, 5 real for offering, and 40 real for his friends. Tarsis said, “We don’t become poor when we help people. God gives us what we need. Honor God!”

Watch a Youtube show about Tarsis at: https://bit.ly/Tarsis-IS .

Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at https://AdventistMission.org .