The Presiding Bishop of Victory Bible Churches International (VBCI), Rt. Rev. N.A. Tackie-Yarboi, has offered a candid look into his life, revealing that his journey from an aspiring pharmacist to a globally recognised pastor was a direct result of his newfound faith overriding his academic focus.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Personality Profile with Lexis Bill, the Bishop explained that his initial academic path was inspired by his father’s professional life.
He was born on the 14th November 1958 in Kumasi to the late Nii Amugi Tackie-Yarboi and Madam Vivian Atswei Sowah.
He attended Darley ‘2’ Middle and Primary School in Accra and proceeded to Ebenezer Secondary School for his secondary education.
“I went to do science because I wanted to be a pharmacist,” he explained. “My father was a pharmacist, so I saw him mixing chemicals just for the joy of it.”
However, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi confessed that the moment he accepted Christ, his commitment to spiritual matters became so consuming that it actively undermined his performance in the difficult, specialised field of science he had chosen.
This dramatic shift ultimately forced him onto his current path.
“But along the line, when I accepted Christ, I couldn’t focus on my studies, so I ended up becoming a pastor,” he confessed.
He recounted the challenges of trying to balance demanding schoolwork, particularly in physics, with intense spiritual disciplines like fasting, which left him physically and mentally drained during key lessons.
“I could go to class and I would be fasting; I didn’t pay attention,” he said. “So in physics class, when they were resolving forces, I tell you I couldn’t see the top.”
The failure to grasp fundamental scientific concepts, such as resolving forces in physics, clearly illustrated the impossibility of maintaining his original career objective against the power of his spiritual devotion.
Bishop Tackie-Yarboi traced his life-changing trajectory back to his time as a secondary school student, where he admitted to “going wayward” before a friend introduced him to the message of salvation.
“By that time, I was going wayward. I was in secondary school, so I wanted help. Somebody talked to me about it, and the way he said it, I said okay, let me accept Jesus,” he recalled.
He described the simple, defining act of praying the sinner’s prayer as the moment his life’s destiny was sealed:
“I lifted my hand, and then the prayer – ‘pray after me’ – ‘Jesus, come into my heart. I accept you as my Lord and personal Saviour.’ The moment I said amen, for some reason, I knew I would do God’s work,” he said.
Bishop N.A. Tackie-Yarboi was ordained in 1986 by Reverend Jimmy Watson, a missionary from the Faith Fellowship Bible Institute, United States of America.
His ministry focuses on raising the foundations of many generations through preaching the gospel, building lives, and empowering communities.
His church celebrated its 40th anniversary in June 2025, and his biography includes a personal reflection on his journey and impact on society.
The Bishop’s story serves as a powerful testament to the unexpected detours of destiny, illustrating how a profound spiritual awakening redirected a young man’s highly specialised academic career into leading one of Ghana’s prominent pentecostal denominations. VBCI, which he co-founded, now boasts multiple branches both in Ghana and internationally.
Tackie-Yarboi has authored – books; “The Believer’s Mind”, “Dreams of the Night”, “Overcoming Depression”, “Making the most of what you have, “Financial Empowerment” and “Fulfilling your destiny.
Bishop Tackie-Yarboi is also a member of the Minister’s Fellowship International, headed by Dirck Iverson; the Potter’s House International Pastoral Alliance, headed by Thomas D. Jakes; and the Faith Fellowship Assemblies, headed by Jimmy Watson.
Source: Emmanuel Tetteh
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