The Baby Formula Fiasco — Should Churches Give to Those in Need?

A woman named Nikalie Monroe, a counselor from Kentucky, made headlines, and sparked a firestorm of online debate, by doing something pretty unexpected.

She started calling churches.

Not for money. Not for attention. Just to ask if they could help her get baby formula for her child.

Now, here’s the twist, it was a social experiment, one she recorded and posted on TikTok, and it quickly went viral.

In total, she says she called more than 40 churches across the country. Her simple request? Formula for a two-month-old baby. Something so basic. So essential. And yet, only a small handful of churches said yes.

What Nikalie Monroe’s Experiment Revealed About Church Giving

The videos, some of which included crying baby sound effects to emphasize the urgency, showed a wide range of responses. A few churches stepped in immediately, offering gift cards or groceries. But many did not. Some said they couldn’t help. Others didn’t respond at all. And a few even reacted harshly.

For many watching, the question wasn’t just about formula, it became about faith in action.
How should churches respond when someone is in need?

 

Should Churches Help When Someone Asks for Baby Formula?

If we’re being honest, the answer is obvious.

Yes.

No disclaimers. No hesitation. No long list of conditions.

When a mother, or someone claiming to be one, reaches out with a need as simple and human as feeding a baby, our first response should be compassion. Whether or not the story is “real,” the need is.

Because the Church isn’t just called to preach truth. We’re called to live it out. And when we help the hungry, the hurting, and the overlooked, Jesus says it’s like we’re doing it for Him. (Matthew 25:40)

What Happens When the Church Says Yes

Some of the churches that did say yes are now seeing an outpouring of support. One Kentucky church reportedly received over $75,000 in donations after simply saying, “Yes, we’ll help.”

That’s the power of compassion.

It shows people that the Church isn’t just a place, it’s a people. A people who care. A people who show up. A people who don’t wait for perfection before they act.

And that’s what this experiment ultimately exposed, not just a few churches that said no, but a bigger need for a shift in how we respond to those in crisis.

Faith Isn’t Just Preached, It’s Practiced

Look, not everyone is in a position to give. But sometimes, saying yes doesn't require a warehouse of supplies or a massive church budget. Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting a basic need and doing it with love.

OneShare Health believes in that kind of ministry.

As a Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry, our Members support one another, through prayer, through shared Medical Expenses, and through a community that believes we’re Better Together.

We don’t need to overthink compassion. We just need to live it.

If you want to be part of a faith-based community that believes in showing up for others—especially when it matters most, speak with a OneShare Health specialist today and explore a Program that fits your values and your family.