A social media experiment by TikTok influencer Nikalie Monroe has sparked a wave of controversy, drawing attention to how American religious institutions respond to pleas for help in emergencies.
Monroe's viral series, which consists of over 40 videos, explores whether churches, mosques, and temples across the United States are willing to offer assistance to those in need - particularly when the need is as immediate as baby formula for a hungry infant.
The Dream City Church Controversy
One of the most talked-about moments in Monroe’s series came from a call to Dream City Church, a large Assemblies of God megachurch in Phoenix.
The church, which has historical ties to Charlie Kirk, became the focal point of criticism when a representative told Monroe that she would have to wait "a couple of days to weeks" for approval before receiving any baby formula.
The response sparked backlash from social media users who felt the church failed to act in a timely manner, especially considering its large resources and high public profile.
This delay stood in contrast to Monroe's experiences with other religious organizations, some of which responded quickly to her request for help.
The Social Media Experiment
Monroe's experiment, which began in October and continued through Halloween, involved calling 39 different religious institutions across Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and other nearby states.
Posing as a mother in need of baby formula, Monroe received a mix of responses.
In many cases, churches and other religious organizations declined to offer help, citing various reasons, such as a lack of resources, a policy of only helping members, or simply directing her to local food banks.
One particular response came from a Baptist church in South Carolina, which told Monroe they could not assist her because she wasn’t a member of their congregation.
In contrast, a few institutions were more forthcoming.
A Catholic church in Alcoa, TN, and an Islamic Center in Charlotte, NC, immediately offered assistance, providing the much-needed baby formula and clear instructions on how to pick it up.
These responses were a rarity in Monroe’s experiment but stood out as examples of compassion in action.
The Reaction: Church Leaders Push Back
While the majority of institutions Monroe contacted failed to help, some have since responded to the fallout.
In Baton Rouge, a pastor addressed the controversy in a sermon, defending his church’s charitable works and condemning Monroe's actions as a "dirty deed."
He called her an "evil witch" and suggested that if she ever visited his church, she would be dealt with swiftly.
Another pastor spent over 20 minutes in his sermon discussing the experiment, dismissing Monroe as a "woke liberal" and a "woman of folly."
Some leaders, however, pushed back against the experiment by arguing that it’s not their “obligation” to help those outside their congregation.
This perspective has drawn ire from viewers who feel that the essence of religious teachings should include helping those in immediate need, regardless of their membership status.
The Findings: A Mixed Bag of Compassion
Of the 39 religious organizations Monroe contacted, only 9 were willing to assist her in some way.
This included a mix of Buddhist temples and mostly Islamic and Catholic centers.
The vast majority of churches, however, redirected Monroe to local food banks or refused outright, either due to her lack of membership or because they did not have the resources at the time.
VT has contacted Dream City Church for comment.