​In January 1983, the idea of a scholarship committee was conceived by Demar Elam, who at that time was the preacher at the Forest Park Church of Christ. Recognizing the need for sound preachers in the brotherhood Demar, along with several other Christians at the Forest Park Church, founded a scholarship program.  The goal was to provide financial assistance to educate men who had the desire to preach the gospel. In 1997 it was suggested by John Maner, an elder at Forest Park who believed strongly in the program, that the Fund should be an independent, self-sustaining endowment organization. As a result, the Christian Assistance Foundation, Inc.(CAF) was incorporated in 1997 as a tax exempt organization in Georgia and began receiving gifts for the endowment fund.