.png)
When regulators changed state licensing regulations to require Camp IdRaHaJe to let boys use girls’ showers and sleeping quarters (and vice versa), the camp didn’t compromise. They called Alliance Defending Freedom.
And within weeks, the state backed down.
But this story isn’t just about one Colorado camp. It’s about what happens when a ministry is legally prepared and unafraid to live out its biblical convictions, even when challenged.
For more than 75 years, Camp IdRaHaJe has welcomed children each summer to hear the Gospel, build character, and grow in faith. Nestled in Bailey, Colorado, the camp’s name comes from a simple hymn lyric: “I’d rather have Jesus.”
In 2024, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood updated its licensing rules for resident camps, requiring them to allow campers to use showers, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters based on gender identity, not biological sex. For IdRaHaJe, that wasn’t an option.
Allowing biological males to sleep in cabins or change in showers with girls, and vice versa, would have violated the camp’s biblical convictions and put children at risk. When the camp requested a faith-based exemption, the state denied it.
That’s when the camp reached out to Alliance Defending Freedom.
Thanks to its CMA membership, Camp IdRaHaJe had an established relationship with ADF attorneys. It had already submitted documents for review and consulted legal counsel on key ministry questions.
This time, it needed more than guidance. It needed defense.
ADF attorneys filed suit in federal court, challenging the policy as a violation of the camp’s religious freedom. The state quickly realized it had overstepped.
Within one month, Camp IdRaHaJe reached a favorable settlement. Colorado agreed not to enforce the gender identity rules against the camp. It clarified that “churches, synagogues, mosques, or any other place that is principally used for religious purposes” are exempt from the requirements.
As ADF Legal Counsel Andrea Dill put it:
“We’re pleased that Camp IdRaHaJe is again free to operate as it has for more than 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs.”
It is rare that a case is resolved quickly. Many legal disputes stretch on for years. But because Camp IdRaHaJe had already built a strong legal foundation by aligning its documents with its mission, it was able to engage ADF early and respond swiftly and decisively to the state’s actions. Why the Church & Ministry Alliance Exists
Camp IdRaHaJe’s story is just one example of why the ADF Church & Ministry Alliance exists.
We’re here to ensure that every Gospel-centered church and ministry can freely pursue its God-given mission, even in a culture increasingly at odds with biblical truth. Whether you're running a summer camp, leading a congregation, or discipling students, your ability to operate, teach, and serve according to your convictions shouldn't be questioned.
That’s why CMA offers more than just legal defense when a crisis arises. We help ministries build strong legal foundations, stay aligned with their mission, and remain free to live out their calling boldly and faithfully.
For IdRaHaJe, this meant protecting its camp and biblical convictions.
Camp IdRaHaJe never set out to go to court. But when the time came, it was ready.
And readiness is what makes all the difference.
Legal challenges don’t always start with a lawsuit. They often begin quietly, with a policy change, a denied request, or an unexpected notice from a government agency. In moments like those, ministries need to know where they stand and who’s standing with them.
That’s why every CMA membership begins with a Religious Liberty Assessment, a document review process that helps ensure your bylaws, policies, and practices clearly reflect your mission and convictions.
If your ministry ever finds itself in a legal conflict, ADF is here to help. And as Camp IdRaHaJe’s story shows, early preparation can position your ministry for a strong response.
Want to see where your ministry stands?
Start your Religious Liberty Assessment today and take the first step toward long-term protection.
How one CMA member navigated a legal threat, and why that matters for your ministry.
