A woman on TikTok has conducted a social experiment to see how many churches would really go out of their way to help those in need! You know, like the very basic tenets of what Jesus preached.
Amid a record-breaking government shutdown, so many people have not received their full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. People are without food and going hungry, leading a TikToker named Nikalie Monroe to wonder if churches would actually step in and help! After all, that seems to be some politicians’ hypothetical answer to the needy.
Related: Wow, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s Halloween Costume Was SO Racist!!
In a TikTok series going viral over the weekend, Nikalie calls up several different churches around the country, making up a story that she’s a struggling mother with a two-month-old baby. In a phone call with the Mormon Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Knoxville, TN, she explains:
“I have a two-month-old baby and I ran out of formula last night and so she’s not eaten since last night, and she is starving. I was wanting to see if there’s any way y’all could help get formula for her.”
A gut-wrenching situation. Anyone would jump to help someone going through that… right? Certainly a church, right?
Unfortunately, the receptionist declined, claiming she was the “main office” and “not that kind of office.” She recommended the woman in need call other churches. Not their church. Jeez.
@nikalie.monroe The Church of Latter-Day Saints Knoxville TN #fyp #church #churchtiktok #religion #faith #community #humanity #baby #fypシ #foryou #foryoupage #fypシ゚viral #viral #viralvideo #trending #duet #capcut #testingyourfaith #testingyourheart #nikaliemonroe
When the TikToker reached the First Baptist Church in Jackson, MS, she was put on hold — and then a pre-recorded message told her:
“You have reached the Metro Assistance Ministry at First Baptist Jackson. Because of limited resources, we are no longer able to accept new applications.”
Jeez. That’s cold.
Some very well-known churches were also on the list, such as Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas — televangelist Joel Osteen‘s megachurch. Back in 2017, they were blasted for being unwilling to provide shelter to thousands of displaced people during Hurricane Harvey. They showed their true colors then… and now! The person who answered the phone explained:
“We do have a benevolence ministry. I can take down your information and put in a request for you.”
Sounds good — until they explained that it could take “a few days or weeks” to get the request filled. And that’s a big IF. That ain’t helpful to a starving baby who needs food urgently! And this is coming from a church that was estimated to have $59 million in net assets in 2019, according to Fox Business! They’ve got the money to spare on some formula!
@nikalie.monroe Lakewood Church/ Lakewood International Center Houston TX #fyp #church #churchtiktok #religion #faith #community #humanity #baby #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #foryou #foryoupage #viral #viralvideo #trending #duet #capcut #testingyourfaith #testingyourheart #nikaliemonroe
Charlie Kirk‘s church, Dream City Church in Phoenix, AZ, referred her to a food bank. The mother said she’d already called and they’d told her they didn’t have any formula. So she was put through to a higher-up who might be able to help, and… that person didn’t pick up. The content creator tried calling again — and was immediately put on hold! Damn.
@nikalie.monroe Dream city Church Phoenix AZ would not help feed a starving baby. #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #testingyourchurch #church #faith #religion #baby #hungrybabytest #viral #trending #tiktok #capcut #duet #nikaliemonroe #testingyourfaith #community #testingyourheart #churchtiktok #viralvideo #charliekirk #dreamcitychurchphoenix
It wasn’t all depressing AF, though! When Heritage Hope Church of God in Somerset, KY, was contacted, the self-proclaimed “great-grandpa” who answered was SO sweet! He said:
“I’ll see if I can get somebody to do this, we can do this. I’ll just see. Tell me what it is you call it in case I have to go get it myself, because I’m a great-grandpa.”
An amazing response!
The TikToker was incredibly touched by his generosity, telling the receptionist what she was doing:
“I’ve been testing churches in the community to see which ones would actually help, and you just touched my heart. I just want you to know that you are an amazing person.”
He said he “always wants to try to help” anyway he can, even though their church is small. He expressed:
“The Bible tells us that it will be good to all members, especially those with a household faith.”
They went on to discuss various ways to help those in his community. While Nikalie isn’t Christian, she shared:
“I don’t go to church. I don’t believe in Christianity, but churches like this, ones that actually help and try to help, really do touch my heart because at least I know that they are doing what they’re doing with a good, pure heart. And that guy was just so adorable. I love it.”
Hear more of the sweet great-grandpa’s thought process on this!
@nikalie.monroe Sorry people kept calling in and knocking my recording off and it was also a really long call. But this is Heritage Hope Church of God. Such a sweet soul this guy and the fact he was willing to even go get it himself made my heart melt. Loved it. ???? #fypage #foryou #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #foryoupage #viral #viralvideo #trending #capcut #duet #wethepeople #forthepeople #wakeupamerica #worldtok #worldnews #veteran #church #churches #familiesinneed #experiment #God #religion
@nikalie.monroe Visited your favorite Appalachian grandpa this morning for his Sunday service. This was what he wanted to share with you. #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #tiktok #nikaliemonroe #testingchurches #church #experiment #babyexperiment #testingyourchurch #viral #viralvideo #trending #foryou #foryoupage #capcut #duet #veteran #liberal #religion
As of this writing, Nikalie has reached out to 43 churches — and just 10 have agreed to help! That’s 33 establishments that have turned a mother and newborn baby in need away! Wow. That’s so disheartening.
Reactions?! Are YOU surprised by how these businesses reacted? Tell us (below)!
[Image via Nikalie Monroe/TikTok]
The post Woman Exposes How Many Churches Would Actually Help A Starving Baby In Need Amid Government Shutdown! The Results Are Shocking… appeared first on Perez Hilton.