Writer Maxine Harrison reflects on a recent viral social experiment by TikTok creator Nikalie Monroe, whose calls to places of worship asking for baby formula exposed a surprising pattern of responses. Her piece explores what these moments reveal about generosity, witness, and the heart of the Church today.
Recent weeks have seen American TikTok content creator, Nikalie Monroe, go viral due to a social experiment she conducted where she phoned places of worship - predominantly Christian denomination churches, but also some mosques and Buddhist temples - claiming she had run out of baby formula for her two month old baby. She asked whether they would be able to provide some for her. Thirty-three places of worship didn’t provide help for her. Only nine said yes, including a mosque and temple.
The social experiment has also led to a UK content creator, Tawana Musvaburi to try the same experiment with a similar reaction. One church said yes out of 43 she contacted.
The responses from the churches that said no ranged from saying they provide help only for members, to churches who said they no longer have the budget for it. Some of the churches said no but then pointed Nikalie to another resource that may be able to help her.
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There may be different demands put on churches that require different funds set aside for certain ministries.
There may be different demands put on churches that require different funds set aside for certain ministries. From overhead, to paying staff members, to other ministries within the church - these may be their primary focuses. However, there are unexpected requests that pop up outside of this. And so the question arises, what do we do when such unplanned needs, like requests for baby formula, arise?
Whilst I do not know the full context behind why every church said no, it’s disappointing so many refused to help a basic human need for a vulnerable baby. It’s even more disappointing for those who said no on the call and made no effort to take contact details from Nikalie to follow up on if there was a way they could find a way to help.
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The Bible emphasises generosity. We are encouraged to give to those in need - whether or not they are a church member. For example, Matthew 25:35 reads: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in’’.
The reality is that helping others isn’t always convenient or on a preplanned budget.
The reality is that helping others isn’t always convenient or on a preplanned budget. Nikalie, the original creator of the experiment, is not religious but said that part of the aim of the experiment is to help people understand where the money they donate to churches is going. I have been a member of churches that have provided a breakdown of where tithes and offerings go to, and it has made me more confident to know how they are stewarding the money God has blessed me with.
Despite the majority of churches that said no, I am encouraged by the few that said yes. I’m also encouraged by those who initially said no but, after the videos went viral, took it as an opportunity to reflect on how they can do better if a similar future situation arises or create a ministry for vulnerable mothers. Scripture says there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). So the churches that said no shouldn’t wallow in a pit of shame but ask God what he is teaching them from this experiment.
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This experiment is also another reminder to us Christians that the world is watching us and the values we claim to cling to. The experiment has sparked an unfortunate Islam vs Christianity debate online, spotlighting mosques that were quick to say yes to help Nikalie vs Christian churches that said no. Therefore, it’s a reminder to be considerate of our witness in generosity and other aspects of our life. Getting things wrong is inevitable as humans. But it’s about what we do once we recognise our wrong or insufficient response. Do we strive to take that to Christ and ask him where we could improve, double down in our wrong or wallow in shame? In every area we should be striving to be more Christ-like.
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