The Presiding Bishop of Victory Bible Churches International (VBCI), Rt. Rev. N. A. Tackie-Yarboi, has shared his personal account of his journey to faith and ministry.

He revealed how a youthful fascination with adventure and gambling nearly derailed his life before he gave his heart to Christ.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Personality Profile with Lexis Bill, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi recounted how, as a secondary school student, he was “going wayward” until a friend introduced him to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

“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 moment he prayed the sinner’s prayer as a turning point that defined his destiny.

“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.

According to Bishop Tackie-Yarboi, that single moment of surrender set him on a path that would later lead to the founding of Victory Bible Church International, one of Ghana’s most prominent charismatic ministries.

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Reflecting on his youth, he admitted that his adventurous spirit often led him astray.

“I liked gambling, and sometimes I wouldn’t go to class. We would be in the dormitory gambling with my seniors and even my juniors. I did this because I liked adventure,” he said.

He added that his curiosity could easily have led him down a darker path.

“If I saw somebody drinking, I would want to find out why he was drinking and you don’t know when you cannot come back. I always say I thank God that He found me and helped me, because by now, I don’t think I would be alive.”

Bishop Tackie-Yarboi noted that he attended Ebenezer Secondary School, which was then an all-boys institution. Despite his mischievous streak, his leadership qualities soon became evident.

“When we went for inter-schools, I used to lead the jama (cheerleading). You would never know I was behind it, but the school authorities thought I was good for entertainment, so I was made Entertainment Prefect and, at the same time, School Chaplain,” he recounted.

He said that balancing both roles leading entertainment and preaching, was an early sign of his divine calling.

Bishop Tackie-Yarboi credited divine guidance and meaningful encounters over the years for shaping his ministry journey.

“Along the way, I met people – a driver, a friend – and with God’s help, He brought me a full team. I always knew this was what I was meant to do,” 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.