Not a good idea. It is a principle of the thing. He can get around it by doing a lot of things, he can get around it by starting to tell people to vote for democrats and what not. But the principle on which he is making a stand is that it is his right as a free citizen. He should not try to find a way around it.

And the most important thing is that he is a full time preacher. This is the hill he has to die upon (figuratively and literally speaking). If he surrenders and agrees to keep his church open, there is no reason for him to be a preacher in the first place.

He has to assert that he will not withdraw from service of his God and his worship and he has to be willing to die on this hill. As long as he is willing to do that, he will win. There is no other possible outcome. He will win so long as he stands steadfast in his belief.

I’m saving that idea. Love it.

That's the tongue-in-cheek approach, but you can also say you're protesting Newsom's unconstitutional orders which is the most direct answer imo

Newsom himself declared the right to protest the essential right that can't be restricted so, already have the perfect defense if it goes to court.