Viral TikTok: Will Black or White Churches Feed a Hungry Baby?

December 1, 2025

A Kentucky TikTok user named Nikalie Monroe conducted a social experiment by posing as a desperate mother needing baby formula and calling various churches to see how they would respond. The viral videos revealed a stark contrast in responses, with most white churches requiring paperwork, directing her to food banks, or refusing help entirely, while Black churches and mosques predominantly offered immediate assistance without questions. One Appalachian church that quickly offered help has received over $95,000 in donations since their compassionate response went viral, while a Black church pastor who refused help then called Monroe a "witch" from his pulpit faced significant backlash.

Who is affected

Nikalie Monroe, the TikTok user who conducted the experiment
Various churches contacted (white megachurches, Black churches, and mosques)
Heritage Hope Church of God and Pastor Johnny Dunbar (received $95,000+ in donations)
Living Faith Christian Center and Bishop Raymond W. Johnson (faced backlash)
Church members and congregants (including one member who quit Johnson's church)
People in need of charitable assistance from religious organizations
Lakewood Church (Joel Osteen's megachurch), St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and Broadmoor Baptist Church

What action is being taken

Heritage Hope Church of God is using the $95,000+ in donations to bolster community outreach
Broadmoor Baptist Church has reversed course and pledged to do better after initially turning Monroe down
A church member (#PoullardPrettyBlack) is quitting Bishop Johnson's church

Why it matters

This experiment matters because it reveals disparities in how different religious institutions respond to immediate human need, raising questions about whether churches are fulfilling their charitable mission. The viral response demonstrates public expectations that religious organizations should provide immediate help to those in crisis rather than requiring bureaucratic processes. The experiment has sparked a broader national conversation about the role of churches in society, particularly relevant given that recent Pew Research shows only 51 percent of Americans view religious organizations positively, indicating declining public trust that these institutions must address.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint