Recently, a TikTok creator named Nikalie Monroe started a conversation that has many people talking. In her viral series, she called churches across the country asking a simple but emotional question: could they help her get baby formula for her hungry baby?
What made this situation even more interesting was that it was actually a social experiment. There was no real baby, no actual emergency. Nikalie wanted to see how churches would respond when faced with a direct, emotional plea for help. The videos have sparked strong opinions, with some people praising her for shining a light on the church’s response to real need, and others criticizing the experiment as manipulative or unfair.
As someone who follows both faith and social media culture, I found this story crazy fascinating. It touches on compassion, community, accountability, and the sometimes-uncomfortable space where the online world meets real life.
What Happened in Nikalie’s Experiment
According to reports from Newsweek and other outlets, Nikalie called around 42 churches pretending to be a mother who couldn’t afford baby formula. She explained that her baby was hungry and she didn’t know what else to do.
Out of all the churches she contacted, only nine offered to help (at the time of this post). Some said they didn’t have the resources, while others directed her to government programs or local charities. In some cases, she was met with indifference or policy-based responses like, “We don’t assist with that.”
After the experiment went viral, reactions were divided. Some viewers felt heartbroken seeing how few churches responded right away. Others pointed out that many churches operate on tight budgets or have strict guidelines to protect against scams.
Whether you think the experiment was fair or not, it raised an important question: How ready are we to respond when someone says they’re in need?
Why the Reactions Were So Mixed
Many people in the comments saw the videos as a wake-up call for churches to step up. In theory, churches should be the first places someone in crisis can turn to. In the Bible, Jesus often talks about caring for the poor, the hungry, and the helpless. Seeing churches hesitate or say no was emotional for a lot of viewers.
But others defended the churches, reminding people that context matters. Many congregations have systems in place for helping people, but they may not be equipped to provide immediate aid over the phone. Some staff members might be volunteers who don’t have authority to use church funds. Others might have been uncertain if the call was legitimate, especially since many churches regularly receive scam requests.
This is where the conversation gets complicated. Was Nikalie exposing a lack of compassion, or just showing the limits of human systems? Maybe it was both.
The Ethics of Social Experiments Like This
Social experiments have become common on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. They get attention because they stir emotion. But they also raise tough ethical questions.
In this case, the biggest concern is that real people were being tested without their consent. Church staff weren’t told they were part of an experiment until well into the phone call, and now millions of strangers are judging them based on a few seconds of edited video.
At the same time, the video struck a nerve because it felt real. People are struggling right now. Baby formula prices have gone up, food insecurity is a daily issue for many families, and trust in institutions is shaky. Nikalie’s call might have been staged, but the emotions it tapped into were very real.
The line between awareness and exploitation can get blurry online. It’s one thing to start a conversation about need. It’s another to use people’s real reactions as viral content.
What This Reveals About Many Churches Today
Beyond the controversy, this experiment showed something honest about where we are as a society. Many churches want to help, but they’re often understaffed, underfunded, and overwhelmed.
Most churches aren’t sitting on endless resources. They rely on donations, volunteers, and policies that make sure help goes to the right people. Sometimes that makes them seem cold or bureaucratic, even when their hearts are in the right place.
But this also revealed a deeper truth: people want to see compassion in action. When someone says they follow Jesus, others expect to see that love reflected in how they respond to need. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should be personal.
Maybe this was a reminder that the Church’s message means little if people in real need feel unseen or turned away.
What We Can Learn From This
Whether you’re a person of faith or not, there’s something powerful to take from this story.
First, it’s a reminder to lead with empathy. When someone reaches out for help, our first instinct shouldn’t be to question their motives, but to listen. Even if we can’t fix the problem, showing care and offering direction with kindness matters.
Second, we need better systems for real-world help. Churches, charities, and communities could use this as an opportunity to review how they respond to emergencies. Having a plan, a list of resources, or even a small emergency fund can make a huge difference.
Third, we should think critically about viral content. Not everything online shows the full picture. Before we judge, it helps to remember that we’re seeing a small moment without context.
For Bloggers and Content Creators
If you write online or create content, Nikalie’s experiment is also a lesson in responsibility. The stories we tell have power. When we highlight real issues, we can inspire change, but we can also unintentionally cause harm.
It’s okay to start hard conversations, but we have to balance honesty with empathy. The goal shouldn’t just be to go viral; it should be to build understanding.
As bloggers, we have a chance to bridge the gap between online awareness and real-world action. That means not only sharing stories but also providing ways for readers to make a difference, whether that’s linking to local charities, volunteer opportunities, or trusted resources.
Well, that was a doozy…
In the end, Nikalie’s calls weren’t really about baby formula. They were about compassion, awareness, and the gap between what we say we believe and what we do when someone says, “I need help.”
Whether you agree with her methods or not, the video started an important conversation. It reminded us that kindness can’t just live in words or sermons. It has to show up in our actions.
Maybe the takeaway is simple: be the person who listens, who cares, who helps when it’s within your reach. That’s how real change starts, one genuine act of compassion at a time.
What did you think about Nikalie’s experiment? Did it challenge you, frustrate you, or maybe inspire you to see things differently? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
And if this post spoke to you, take a moment this week to pray for your local churches and the people they serve. Maybe even reach out and ask how you can help meet a need in your own community. Sometimes grace looks like simply showing up for someone else.
If you’d like more conversations like this, subscribe to What Grace Looks Like. Thanks so much for reading.
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