ATLANTA — For more than a decade, Angel Food Ministries seemed like a godsend for families who purchased its low-cost food boxes and the churches that shared millions in revenue for distributing the goods.

It became an economic juggernaut in the faith community, feeding thousands a month and pouring $19 million into its network of more than 5,000 host churches in 35 states.

Now, a lawsuit coupled with an FBI raid at the group's headquarters has raised accusations of financial mismanagement at the nonprofit. The raid and ensuing FBI investigation have left church leaders weighing whether to cut their ties to the high-profile charity after the reported disclosure that six-figure salaries were paid to its founders.

"It's kind of hard to know what to do," said the Rev. Chad Massey, whose Unadilla First Baptist Church in central Georgia planned to place its first Angel Food order this month.

FBI officials haven't disclosed the nature of the investigation. Angel Food has acknowledged a grand jury investigation is looking into what it called "alleged financial irregularities" involving unspecified individuals — not the ministry itself.

Meanwhile, board members and former employees have filed lawsuits accusing Angel Food leadership of using the nondenominational nonprofit as a moneymaking venture.

The Rev. Joseph Wingo and his wife, Linda, founded the ministry in 1994 to help 34 families hurt by plant closings in the manufacturing town of Monroe, about 45 miles east of Atlanta.

Since then, Angel Food Ministries has grown to hundreds of workers supplying food for anti-poverty programs at more than 5,000 churches across several denominations. The ministry says it serves more than 500,000 families a month and has no plans to interrupt food delivery.

In 2006, the ministry reported revenue of $96 million and $17 million in expenses. Tax records that year show the Wingos and two of their sons earned a combined total in excess of $2.1 million for leading the ministry, up from just less than a combined $323,000 a year earlier.

The salaries prompted a national Christian charity watchdog group in December to flag Angel Food as one of 30 ministries donors should avoid.