The Tara Church of Christ began as a congregation on January 4, 1976, when approximately eighty members from the Forest Park and Hapeville congregations met together at the Ted Wright's Boy's Club gymnasium in Jonesboro.

Paul Bowers, the first minister for the congregation, delivered the first sermon at morning services, and brother C.D. Dickinson, an Elder from the Adamsville, Alabama congregation delivered the evening sermon. 120 persons were present on that first Sunday morning. The influence of the congregation was immediate with four baptisms and six restorations taking place during the first month.

In 1976, several months after it began, the church purchased eight acres of land on Highway 138 East, approximately one-half mile east of Walt Stevens Road. Construction began in 1978, and on February 14, 1979, the congregation moved into its new facilities.

The congregation had solid leaders from the very beginning. The first three elders of the congregation were Milton Kidd, Tim Mitchell, and Pat Yancey. Also serving the congregation were eight deacons, including Wayne Brown, Dan Findley, Charles Fountain, Ed Garner, Red Pate, Bob Battles, Randall Cody, and Bill Russell.