Christian Homes was established in 1962 by a group of men who had $10.66 and the belief that there should be a good, Christian place for the elderly to live and receive care. The Christian Nursing Home opened in Lincoln, Illinois, in 1965. Over the next 30 years, the ministry of Christian Homes grew. Communities and services were expanded to include specialized services like Memory Care for residents with Alzheimer's disease, and rehabilitative therapy programs.

A spiritually-based, not-for-profit organization, Cedar Crest, Inc., sustains a dynamic community where senior adults may achieve a high quality of life by providing social and support services as well as a variety of independent, assisted, and health center living options.