A few years ago, then 11-year-old Ava told her father she wanted to be baptized. Her mother had been taking her to church since she was 7 years old. While there, Ava fell in love with the people at the church, the kids in her Sunday school classes, and most of all, with her Savior Jesus Christ.

Most parents, even ones who fathered a child out of wedlock, would have been thrilled that their daughter found Jesus.

But not Matthew Bradeen.

He went to war against Ava’s mother, Emily Bickford, with whom he shares custody of the now 13-year-old girl.

Emily and Matthew were never married. They gave birth to Ava and then shared custody. But things changed when Emily and Ava gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

Sadly, Matthew got a judge who refused to capitalize “God” throughout her order.

He also hired a former California socialist professor to testify that churches that believe in heaven, hell, eternal salvation, angles, demons, and the Second Coming can be “harmful” to children under 18.

The judge bought it hook, line, and sinker, issuing an order forbidding Ava from attending any church, anywhere, associating with her Christian friends from church, attending any religious event (including Christmas and Easter), or even reading the Bible with her mother, unless Matthew approves it.

But Ava's father has stubbornly maintained that he will not approve any church, anywhere, at any time.

Shockingly, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld this unconstitutional ruling!

Now Liberty Counsel is filing an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS), requesting the High Court right this egregious wrong. We will submit our appeal brief to the Court within the next few weeks.

We need YOUR HELP to fight for Ava!

We should all be so fortunate to have a teenage girl who desperately wants to attend church and read the Bible.

Help us ensure that religious freedom is always available to young people like Ava, without an anti-Christian judge robbing them of the opportunity.

Help us make Ava’s dream of returning to church and reading the Bible come true. Support Emily and Ava’s legal fund today, and a special “Defend the Gospel Challenge Grant” will double your impact.

Finally, please pray for Ava and her mom, Emily!

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

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SOURCE: 

Cauffiel, Lowell. “Exclusive: Girl Kept from Church, Bible, and Christian Friends by Portland Judge Awaits Appeals Court Ruling.” Breitbart, June 6, 2026. Breitbart.com/faith/2026/06/06/exclusive-girl-kept-from-church-bible-and-christian-friends-by-portland-judge-awaits-appeals-court-ruling/.