Kingdom Pivoting in a Pandemic

During this global crisis as the COVID-19 pandemic causes an unprecedented shift in the economic landscape, businesses are adapting and pivoting to survive. COVID-19 savaged the U.S. economy as 2020 was its worst performance in 74 years. In order to survive or thrive, businesses must pivot to maintain or increase revenues. Pivoting is to turn on, revolve or swing or rotate. Subsequently, it’s a time for creativity, for Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson, Jr. being bold and decisive DreamLife Worship Center and for thinking outside Randallstown, MD the box. It’s also a time for businesses to use their skills and facilities to find gaps in the market; and then quickly fill them.

In fact, pivoting can provide a platform for growth once the world starts to recover. Businesses that have pivoted to keep afloat are often those in the best position to leverage opportunities moving forward. This is very true also for churches and ministries who want to maintain and even grow in this pandemic. There must also be some pivoting in the kingdom of God in order to stay relative and effective in these times. Unfortunately, many churches are still operating in an old paradigm or wineskin, therefore are hindering the glory of God because they will not pivot. Consequently, many churches have closed down, not just because of size but because of an unwillingness to pivot.

Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson, Jr. DreamLife Worship Center Randallstown, MD

Why is it necessary to pivot?

If you can no longer see a viable way to achieve growth, it is time to pivot. Sometimes a business or church just needs to exert more effort, and other times they need to evolve or change direction. It is very important for me to note here that a church is a business. Yes, it is first a spiritual organism, but it functions in the earth as an organization. This understanding is what sometimes separates the growing churches from the stagnant ones.

-One specific connotation of the term "pivot" in this sense is that it is not just a "change of direction", but a "sudden, rapid change of direction and focus".

Generally it implies that the company is essentially abandoning its previous efforts in order to make a concerted effort towards a new goal. Lessons may be learned from the old project, and parts may be salvaged and repurposed; but the original plan has been cast aside and everyone is working toward a new end.

Whether it's exploring new markets, services or products, pivoting can help create opportunities to expand revenue. Pivoting toward new markets, services or products is a great way to build on the foundation a business already has, to expand revenue and bring more profit to the organization.

What does it mean to pivot?

It’s a way to describe fundamental changes young businesses often need to make in order to achieve their missions and visions. When costs or in this case, church revenue is down, it will require that you rethink how you staff, equip, and organize your business.

Change is a natural and expected part of running a church. Even the scripture tells us that we are changing from glory to glory, going from faith to faith in the kingdom of God. Whether big or small, strategic pivots need to be carefully planned and well-timed. At our church, DreamLife Worship, we have made several pivots in the pandemic. Some were popular and others were painful, but each pivot empowered us to grow during the pandemic.

How do you know when your church is ready to evolve to its next phase?

Since we have established that the church is an organization, let’s look at some organizations that have pivoted over the years. What does Starbucks, Twitter and Nintendo all have in common? They’re all companies that pivoted their initial focus into something new, eventually becoming industry giants. Starbucks started out selling espresso machines, Twitter was a platform for finding podcasts, and Nintendo produced all sorts of different things (such as vacuum cleaners!).

By changing focus, they were able to pivot into the successful companies we know today. Pivoting was first introduced by entrepreneur Eric Ries in 2009 and is defined by the Financial Times lexicon as a shift in strategy. Starbucks, Twitter and Nintendo are extreme cases, but in reality, pivoting exists on a

sliding scale. Pivoting, large or small, is crucial for any entity, church or business for several reasons. Let’s look at a few…

1. Everything is changing at a rapid pace, and the world of

church business is no exception. Sometimes the church has lost it relevancy in a community because she forgets that we are called to minister to the everchanging needs of people in an everchanging culture.

2. Pivoting can create opportunities to expand revenue.

Churches have found out that pivoting to virtual services has actually increased their exposure. Consequently, allowing them to grow in scope and in potential donors.

3. It’s easier to stay relevant. Some of the best church ideas/realizations come after testing different things. Ministry is all about trying new things, moving forward, studying culture, implementing the changes to meet community needs and seeing results. Part of this process involves making conclusions about what is truly working and what is not. This often requires church leaders to pivot. These choices aren’t’t always easy (change rarely is) but are often better for the church in the long-run.

4. It can reinvigorate the church. Pivoting is a great way to bring new life to the business or church organization. All churches must evolve if they want to stay current with their culture. Becoming stagnant or irrelevant is one of the worst things that could happen to a church, and one of the best ways to avoid this is through the strategic use of pivoting.

In summary, pivoting is to turn on, revolve or swing or rotate. To evolve or change direction in what you’re assigned and called to do in a more profitable way. Pivoting is not the Holy Spirit’s job in your life and ministry, but ours. He is there to lead, remind and empower us once we surrender our will.

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17 NKJV

Here’s another version of these same verses and more.

“The holy God of Israel, the LORD who saves you, says: “I am the LORD your God, the one who wants to teach you for your own good and direct you in the way you should go. “If only you had listened to my commands! Then blessings would have flowed for you like a stream that never goes dry! Victory would have come to you like the waves that roll on the shore. Your descendants would be as numerous as grains of sand, and I would have made sure they were never destroyed.” Go out from Babylon, go free! Shout the news gladly; make it known everywhere: “The LORD has saved his servant Israel!” When the LORD led his people through a hot,

Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson, Jr. dry desert, they did not suffer from and Pastor Lenyar Robinson thirst. He made water come from a

rock for them; he split the rock open, and water flowed out. “There is no safety for sinners,” says the LORD.” Isaiah 48:17-22 GNB

Also, God will give us the foresight and insight, along with the creative ideas to pivot, so we can grow and prosper even in 5. You Want To Make Your Church A Stronger a pandemic. Look at what Solomon said about God’s wisdom Version Of Itself. The desire to take your church to new within us. Proverbs 8:12 “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and levels of ministry and profits requires change and adaptation. find out knowledge of witty inventions.” It requires a break from routine and old habits. It will require Major shifts on the demand side are also occurring in the a mindset shift with a full understanding of the importance kingdom of God for the growth and expansion of His will in of evolving. Ask yourself, “What is really going to change the earth. We see many examples of innovation throughout to become better?” Then, set your goal in the next quarter to the Scriptures. They are not just limited to creating products, begin improving effectiveness and efficiency. At Dreamlife, but they also include creating a new breed of animals, major we made significant changes in our virtual and community building constructions, guidelines on how to successfully outreach services. We invested in the highest level business approach life, medical procedures, and even how to bring internet services and upgraded media equipment to better our change in the culture. Truly there is nothing new under the sun, presentation online for virtual services. Also, because of the as Solomon told us in Ecclesiastes 1:9. increasing need for food and essentials of families, we partnered My prayer is that these innovations inspire you to be like with Maryland Food Bank to feed over 800 plus families this your Father, the first Innovator. As you pivot, God will give past year during the pandemic. Subsequently, we are a much you new innovative ideas so you can grow your business or better ministry than before the pandemic because we pivoted. church for greater kingdom impact.

Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson, Jr. and Pastor Lenyar Robinson