Several local officials Thursday praised the hard work of the Rev. Edwin E. Ford, who led a project to convert an abandoned Broad Street building in Douglasville into a church and shelter for homeless men.

A ribbon cutting service was held at Crossroads For Life Ministries, 6976 West Broad Street. Several participating dignitaries in the ceremony included Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson, Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller, Superior Court Judge William James, Magistrate Court Judge Barbara Caldwell, State Court Judge Neal Dettmering, District 1 Commissioner Freddie Ashmon Jr. and Douglasville Police Chief Chris Womack.

“I’m proud the church located here,” said Thompson. “They took a structure that was vacated for so long and transferred it into something useful.”

Miller lauded Ford for his efforts to help people turn their lives around.

“We look at ways to get people back on track,” the sheriff said. “We try to rehabilitate them so they won’t come back to see us in jail. You give them the skills and teach them to work so they have a better chance.”

Superior Court Judge William James noted that he first knew Ford when Ford was a probation officer.

“I always appreciated him as a probation officer,” James said. “It was a loss when he decided to take this track, but he’s doing more good here. This is a good place to put those wheels back on track.”

Jere O’Neal heads up a local ministry called the “Jackleg Carpenters,” and he met Ford when both were seeking housing for homeless men.

“Both of us were looking for the same thing, so Brother Ed and I got together,” O’Neal said Thursday.

The result was “The Door,” a shelter at the church to help homeless men in Douglas County. O’Neal said it’s a similar project to Douglas County’s “Hope Project” for women.

“We’ve helped each other and have had a good relationship,” he added. “I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Womack called Ford “one of those people who’s always been available.” He added, “This place is a blessing to our community.”