About Cultivating Enough

Cultivating Enough in the Care of Clergy

is an initiative of the Presbytery of Philadelphia that seeks to encourage and nourish pastors who are serving small churches, churches in communities of color, and church plants (and replants). Often prone to isolation and burnout, it was the dream of presbytery leadership to find a way to shift this landscape for its pastors. In 2020, before the pandemic, the presbytery received a planning grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. to explore a cohort model for supporting and boosting pastors in these contexts. After a successful pilot program, led by the Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia, the presbytery submitted and received an additional grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. to fully fund the initiative for another five years.

In the spring of 2021, the Rev. Sarah A. Colwill was brought on presbytery staff to implement this exciting new endeavor. In the fall of that same year, our first cohort was launched with 12 pastors who were brought together for workshops, fellowship, and retreats. The two-year program includes monthly small group meetings and opportunities for other spiritual engagements such as walking a labyrinth and engaging in visio divina at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We aim to instill in these faithful servants that they are enough - as children of God called to lead the church in this time and place. As they share resources, stories, and ideas, they are leaning into this truth, that can only be realized together.

Program Leadership

  • Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace, Executive Presbyter

    Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace began her call as Executive Presbyter on February 1, 2014. Before pursuing ordained ministry as Minister of Word and Sacrament, Ruth received a Masters in Public Administration and used her gifts as a “bridge builder" for more than 15 years – serving in Washington, DC and Rome, Italy. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Ruth served as Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, PA, and as Executive Presbyter of San Gabriel Presbytery in Southern California. Ruth has been described as linguistically tri-lingual (speaking English, Spanish and Italian) and theologically bi-lingual, and she comes with a deep commitment to bringing people together of different cultures and theological perspectives. Ruth is married to the Rev. Dr. Edward Santana-Grace and they are parents to two children – Dakota and David (who lives with his family in Italy).

  • Rev. Sarah A. Colwill, Program Director

    Rev. Sarah A. Colwill joined the presbytery staff as Program Director mid-April of 2021. Prior to this current call, she served as Pastor at Church on the Mall, Campus Chaplain at Drexel University, and Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield (Flourtown). Her experience in these contexts has birthed a desire to help pastors feel connected to colleagues, encouraged to care for themselves, and grounded in their sense of “enoughness.” It brings her great delight to hear pastors in the program caring for their own souls, taking time off, and finding joy in their ministry. Sarah is a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Penn State University. Sarah’s call to ministry stems from the loving church community in which she was raised, where she was taught that she is loved, she belongs, and she is valued. Sarah has two teenaged children, Nathan and Julia, and enjoys running, journaling, and playing with her dog, Bella.

  • Rev. Dr. T. Janel Dixon, Program Associate

    Rev. Dr. T. Janel Dixon serves as fulltime Pastor of Cedar Park Presbyterian Church. In addition to this call, she works alongside our Program Director for roughly 10 hours/week. Prior to returning to Philadelphia in 2013, Janel served as Pastor to Calvary Presbyterian Church in Wilson, North Carolina for about 15 years. In preparation for ordained ministry, she attended Eastern Theological Seminary (currently Palmer Theological Seminary) having earned both an M. Div. and M.A.T.S. degree. Janel earned her Doctor of Ministry degree in Leadership Development from Princeton Theological Seminary. The most fulfilling aspect of ministry for Janel is preaching and mentoring others who are exploring a call to ministry. Janel is a trained Spiritual Director. She and her husband have celebrated over 30 years of marriage, and are blessed with two beautiful children: Samira and Tai-durell. For fun Janel enjoys going to Movie Tavern, walking along the beach, and visiting the Philadelphia Zoo.

"I am beyond grateful for the Cultivating Enough program, which has provided support through a time of physical isolation and unprecedented challenges."

Rev. Kari Olson, member of the pilot cohort and pastor of East Falls Presbyterian Church