CHANDLER, Ariz.—Here is the church without the steeple. Holding church in a converted movie theater, a business center and a concert hall may be a sign of the real estate times for churches.

The Gospel 4 Life Church meets in a former meat locker. According to The Arizona Republic, turning the house for cattle into a house of worship wasn't easy.

Former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Tyrone Stowe paid six figures to buy the building. The first to go was the "chill room" of giant freezers, 15 tons of refrigeration equipment, 50 motors and a cooling tower. While ceiling rail hooks were removed, the carcass-holding rails remain.

"This building is sanctified by the blood of all those animals," said Stowe. The Full Gospel Word and Worship Center meets in a former movie theater. The challenge of turning an 11,000-square-foot theater into a church began by gutting the building to create a sanctuary for 500, room for day care, classrooms, a gym and offices.

Pastor Shermaine Fort of the Full Gospel Word said the non-traditional building for the church reflects modern ministry meeting more needs.

"Many churches are starting to move into these kind of uses," Fort said. "It helped us in that we're able to use the facility to meet more needs. Most traditional churches are not built with the facilities today that the church needs to meet the needs of the community."

"I can remember when I said I wouldn't go to a church like that," said Andy Miritello, a deacon at Full Gospel Word. "Times change."

Non-traditional buildings may have been for startup churches in the past, but now, with real estate costs rising, they make financial sense for other churches.

"More and more in the Christian community, people are understanding that," Miritello said. "We believe God is with us. It doesn't matter what type of building we're praising him in."

Life Community Church bought an entire business center. They lease extra space to businesses such as a dental office and a Mexican restaurant.

"As things change and the culture changes, churches respond accordingly," said Pastor Delmer Geesey of Life Community. He said the move has helped the church. The congregation feels very comfortable in an office environment and most churchgoers today don't demand a traditional sanctuary.

"It's been really good for our church," Geesey said. "We were in a traditional church for 12 years. . Once we came here, we'll never go back."

Another church in Mesa converted a downtown theater from a rave and rock show venue to Faith Harvest Church. Pastor Mark Hillis said the church will have a positive impact on the community, especially because of the renovation of the building. Drugs and frequent police calls marked the former live music hall. The church painted over the black walls and put a pulpit on the concert stage.