CARROLLTON, Texas -- Ministerios Bethania USA, a booming Hispanic apostolic church, has purchased a former Ford distribution center on Belt Line Road, paying $5.5 million for the two-building, 300,000-square-foot complex.

According to the Dallas Business Journal, the deal ends Carrollton's hopes for finding an industrial, property-tax-paying replacement for the distributorship, which moved last fall.

Ministerios Bethania, which has seen its congregation swell from 10 to 2,000 in 12 years, continues to add an average of 80 to 100 new members each month, said Dr. Victor H. Higueros, senior pastor and founder.

The first phase of the facility's redesign includes constructing a 2,500-seat sanctuary. A 10,000-square-foot office within the warehouse will be used for Sunday school and other classes.

The second phase, which should be complete next year, calls for developing a youth center, athletic facilities and café. A daycare center, elementary, middle and high schools will be built as funding allows.

The church expects to host its first service at its new home sometime in September, according to the news report.

As part of the deal, Ford is providing Ministerios Bethania with concessions valued at more than $5 million, in the form of a reduced sales price, donated furniture and other equipment, and no-interest financing.

"Ford has been amazingly supportive," said Robert Chavez, a commercial real estate broker who represented the church. "Hispanic people are very brand-loyal, and this church eventually will have more than 10,000 members. With its radio and television programs, and all of the members' cousins and other relatives -- the exponential factor is unbelievable. Ford could see the benefit of reaching out to this group; it's a lot of cars and trucks."

The complex includes a 37,000-square-foot office building and 260,000-square-foot warehouse on 36 acres.

Carrollton economic development officials are disappointed the site was sold to the church rather than a company that would have generated tax revenues.

"We always hate, from a government perspective, to lose taxes," said Brad Mink, Carrollton's director of economic development. "We're going to have to come up with another way to help pay our police officers and firemen and provide infrastructure."

According to the Dallas Central Appraisal District, the automaker paid more than $218,000 in 2002 property taxes; close to $50,000 of that went to the city of Carrollton.