Rev. Carissa Tarkington is originally from Higden, Arkansas which is on Greers Ferry Lake.  She grew up in the United Methodist Church.  She met her husband Michael, who goes by the name Tark, at Arkansas State University.  Together they have two sons, Michael Glen and Westley. 

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Carissa has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Youth Ministry and a Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS.   She has been involved in youth ministry for over 15 years and has served as the Director of Youth Ministries at Salem UMC in Conway, Arkansas, First United Methodist Church in  Mount Vernon, Texas, and First United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas  Most recently she was the Recruitment and Logistics Coordinator for Ozark Mission Project.

 

  For Fun, Carissa likes going to Disney World with her family, crocheting, reading, writing, and spending time with the family pets.  The Tarkington’s have three dogs, Darcy, Elinor, and Bingley.  They also have one cat named Cora.