``It's kind of hard to foreclose on God. It always makes the paper as the big bad bank against the church,'' he said. ``If you can get comfortable with the metrics to make sure they are on solid financial footing, I think it's good business.''

Does God get a good rate?

``Usually, there is some friendly pricing for church deals,'' Valdes-Fauli said.

Just as the credit crunch is preventing many people from purchasing homes, faith communities are also finding it tough to buy. Even though Koplowitz, the developer, and LeRoy Wilson in Overtown say they have received viable offers, deals are falling through because loans and grant money are scarce.

``There are more buyers than churches for sale,'' said Harry Jordan, a commercial associate with NAI Miami who specializes in religious properties.

There are more buyers than synagogues, too, according to Hillary Garbarino, a commercial associate with Brenner Real Estate Group in Fort Lauderdale. She was involved in Temple Beth Israel's recent purchase of a large commercial space near Ikea in Sunrise because there were no built synagogues available in the area.

Even in this market, some deals are being consummated.

Valdes-Fauli said he made a loan to a church in Miami-Dade less than six months ago. Jordan said he has a contract on a large Methodist church in Hollywood that has been listed for two years. The last listing price for the 35,000-square-foot church with the towering spire was $4.9 million.

Other potential sellers, such as Archbishop Wayne Manning of Omega Church in Fort Lauderdale, believe God has intervened. Omega was facing foreclosure before the lender reduced his monthly mortgage payments from $5,000 to about $2,000, Manning said.

That will allow him to continue his ministry of spreading the gospel and caring for the poor until he can find a buyer.

``God's been good to us,'' Manning said.