The Presiding Bishop of Victory Bible Churches International (VBCI), Rt. Rev. N.A. Tackie-Yarboi, has cautioned against an overemphasis on material wealth in churches, while stressing the importance of prosperity as a tool for societal upliftment.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Personality Profile with Lexis Bill, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi acknowledged the harsh realities of poverty, describing it as “very demeaning and very dehumanising”, but emphasised that the church’s focus on prosperity is intended to help people thrive.

“In talking about prosperity, we pray that people will prosper, and the Bible itself talks about prosperity. But if you prosper, don’t worship the things that come your way. See it as a tool that you work with,” he said.

The bishop addressed criticisms that churches promote materialism, noting that the problem lies not in prosperity itself but in how it is communicated.

“If the church is being criticised, I think it is the overstretching. One side of the truth we overstretch is when people are displaying their prosperity. I think it is the attitude by which some of us within the church have communicated the blessing and prosperity that people detest,” he explained.

Bishop Tackie-Yarboi highlighted the influential role of the church in society, noting that people trust both God and the church for guidance.

He argued that a significant imbalance exists in the church’s priorities, with too much focus on material success rather than morality and character.

“This world is not our home; we are just passing through, and so we don’t pay attention to people serving, people making it, and people letting people know that morality is important and character is important. So what we have done is we have shifted emphasis,” he said.

The bishop drew a distinction between charismatic and orthodox churches, noting that while the latter often prioritise education and social development, charismatic churches tend to emphasise spiritual experience and lifestyle affluence.

“If you look at the orthodox churches, they emphasise educating people, and then a lot of the missionary schools. But if you look at the charismatic churches, our emphasis is more on the spirit and lifestyle affluence, and I think that is where we tend to miss it,” he added.

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.