Welcome to the first edition of OBSERVATORY - PASTORIA's 2026 free monthly newsletter that will help you think through culture, theology, and business to do something new about it.
Look out for a premium tier or two in February that is more specialized per life and work area: specifically Ministry and Family
It's part of a growing class of "minimalist" phones - this one, in particular, having a non-touch screen and not too much functionality was named one of Time's "Best Inventions of 2025"
The Light Phone looks like it could work because people, I think, would prefer to use phones less - not more.
And, most people probably already just use a few apps - not a gazillion and just needing more help if the phone gets even more complex to use.
Now, while the Light Phone is not anti-digital, it's like one step in between "being on your phone all the time" and "not having a phone at all."
And, there's like a nascent anti-digital social trend right now - an example of which was a creator named "AskCatGPT" (profiled in VOGUE) turning to analog-esque phones
So, Pastorians, let's sit with something for a moment:
Is it possible that a "light" version of something in your life would be better than what it is right now?
Perhaps we do not need singular (unintended pun) devices for everything and all of the time.
Could it be that we need various, less complex things that do just a few things quite well?
I'm not totally sure yet - still trying to think it through.
In the meantime, I have some options for you below...
James from PASTORIA Chief Product Officer and Co-founder PASTORIA
SELF
What do your recent family gatherings say about the kind of family that you want?
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