If the cost of building a new steeple feels a bit too steep, Church Loans can help. The company does just what its name implies -- it makes loans to churches for the construction or purchase of new facilities; it also loans money to assisted living centers and other not-for-profit organizations. The company, founded in Amarillo, Texas in 1959, is organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT) and writes loans throughout the US. Most of Church Loans' investments are secured by first mortgages or deeds of trusts, but in recent years, the REIT has issued short-term loans for construction, the purchase of real estate, and refinancing.