Rev. Dr. César Vega Zeno

Rev. Dr. César Vega, a devoted minister and missionary who dedicated five decades to serving God, passed away peacefully. He was born on August 30, 1944, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to César Vega González and Dominga Zeno, where he spent his early childhood surrounded by family before moving to Brooklyn, New York, where he was raised and graduated from high school in 1962.

Growing up, César was particularly close to his mother and, as the oldest of five siblings, took care of them while his father was in the Merchant Marines and away from home for long periods of time. This early responsibility shaped his character and leadership abilities. His mother instilled in him strong values centered on the church, faith, and hard work, which became the guiding principles of his entire life.

As a young man, César was characterized as faithful, devoted, and kind - traits that would define his character throughout his ministry. During his teenage years, he formed lasting friendships and developed a strong work ethic by working for Diego Irizarry, his future father-in-law. One day, Diego approached César with a request: could he fix a missionary's broken car? When César replied that he could if he had the proper tools, Diego went out and bought the tools César needed. True to his word, César repaired the car, revealing not only his natural mechanical gift but also his early heart for supporting ministry work. However, he recognized that he needed to earn money for seminary first.

Following his graduation from high school, César answered the call to serve his country, enlisting in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1965. His first assignment was in Germany, where he gave his life to the Lord and was first discipled by The Navigators. This spiritual transformation changed the trajectory of his life. Later, he volunteered to go to Vietnam in order to earn enough money to attend seminary. His military service was one accomplishment he was particularly proud of, as both his service in Germany and Vietnam shaped his understanding of service, dedication, and faith.

César's love story began early when he worked in his future father-in-law Diego's shoe store. He was 15 when he met Edda, who was just 14 at the time. Their courtship developed over time as they shared common values and dreams. Edda fondly remembers one evening when César took her to a lovely Italian restaurant. On the way home, he realized he only had enough money for one of them to ride the train back to Brooklyn. Ever the gentleman, he offered to pay her fare, but Edda had other plans—she playfully slipped under the turnstile and headed for the train. César dropped his coin in the slot and followed her, both of them laughing as they began their journey home together. It was moments like these that captured the spirit of their partnership: facing life's challenges together with love, laughter, and resourcefulness.

On August 6, 1966, César married his beloved childhood sweetheart, Edda Josefina Irizarry, in Brooklyn, New York. They chose Jeremiah 32:39 as their joint lifetime Scripture, demonstrating their faith in what God had planned for them: "I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will be well for them and their children after them." Their early married years were marked by adventures and challenges they faced together as ministry partners in life. Their relationship evolved over the decades, with them always serving as partners in ministry and friends in life.

Their union was blessed with three children: daughter Elizabeth and sons Danny and Alexander. As a father, César was patient and kind, even when being firm. He held his children to high standards and did not tolerate disobedience, dishonesty, nor disrespect. These were the principles he would not compromise on, understanding that they formed the foundation of godly character.

Tragically, their youngest son Alexander passed away on August 17, 1992, from a brain tumor, a devastating loss that deeply affected the family. Despite this profound heartbreak, César never doubted God's love and mercy, nor did he deviate from his ministry calling. His unwavering faith became a testament to those around him as he continued laboring faithfully for God, his family, and his colleagues, even in the midst of grief. Through this dark valley, he demonstrated the very Scripture that guided his marriage—trusting that God would work all things together for good. His steadfast commitment to ministry during this season of loss became an example of faith in action, showing others how to cling to God's promises when life seems unbearable.

César's calling to ministry began early in his adult life. He was ordained by Columbia Evangelical Church in 1971 and received his license from the Palmetto Presbytery in 1987. His educational journey was extensive, earning a B.A. in Biblical Education from Columbia Bible College in 1971, followed by an M.A. in Bible from Columbia Graduate School and Seminary in 1977, an M.A. in Missiology from Columbia Bible College and Seminary in 1986, and culminating with a Doctor of Ministry degree from South Florida Center for Theological Studies in 1994. In other words, he earned a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees, and a doctorate because he was a lifelong student of the Word of God—he loved to study God's Word.

Rev. Vega's ministry career spanned 50 years with The Navigators, an international, interdenominational Christian ministry founded in 1933 with the mission "to know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same." The Navigators has helped people in over 100 countries bring hope and purpose to others through Life-to-Life® discipleship - a commitment to help people grow in Christ by reading the Bible together, praying together and intentionally walking in everyday life together. This personal approach to helping people grow in Christ is not a program; rather, it involves long-term friendship—going through all of life together while keeping Jesus in the center.

Throughout his 50 years of missionary work, César was highly esteemed by colleagues and was known for how he always put people first and shared his positive outlook on life. His life's focus was developing disciples as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission, working primarily in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the Hispanic community in South Florida. This embodied The Navigators' foundational Scripture from 2 Timothy 2:2: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." This was evident in how he mentored others and gave back professionally throughout his career.

In extended family gatherings, César was a man of prayer who enjoyed praying for others. He delighted in spending time with his siblings and their children, cherishing these precious family moments together. His role as a minister made him uniquely positioned to serve his loved ones during life's most meaningful occasions—he often ministered the rites of marriage, baptism, communion, and death for family members, bringing both his pastoral heart and family love to these sacred moments. He had a gift for bringing people together and creating meaningful connections through his ministry and personal relationships.

Outside of ministry, César had many interests that brought him joy. He loved fishing, photography, and staying physically active by working out with weights, running 10K races and marathons. He enjoyed outdoor activities like camping and scuba diving, and delighted in playing pickup games with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed playing dominoes.

César and Edda traveled extensively together, visiting many cities to attend ministry conferences. He enjoyed taking his wife on cruises and creating cherished memories together. These travels strengthened both their marriage and their ministry as they learned from other Christian leaders and experienced God's creation together.

Throughout his life, César remained dedicated to maintaining his home through his skilled handiwork. He was always repairing the home, fixing appliances, and working on the cars. He was frugal and always looked for a bargain, and he never hired anyone if he could avoid it, preferring to do the work himself. His love for practical work never left him, and he remained active in various repair and building projects throughout his life.

César's sense of humor was infectious, particularly his love for America's Funniest Home Videos, which he used to connect with his children and grandchildren and bring joy to those around him. He found entertainment in simple pleasures and used humor as a way to build relationships and lighten difficult moments. His playful spirit showed in his love of pulling pranks and photo-bombing pictures, bringing laughter to family gatherings. He especially enjoyed teaching his grandchildren tongue twisters, delighting in their laughter. On one memorable occasion when he went to visit his mother, he put on a white clown wig to surprise her, demonstrating his playful nature even as an adult. His contagious belly laugh could fill a room and bring smiles to everyone around him.

As César entered his later career and pre-retirement years, his wisdom and perspective grew from decades of experience. He always knew the right thing to do because he was deeply committed to his daily devotional time, reading one Proverb and seven Psalms each day, in addition to memorizing Scripture verses. This daily immersion in God's Word was the foundation of his wisdom and guided his decisions throughout his life. He lived according to biblical principles, and he was frugal and had saved money well for the future, demonstrating the same careful stewardship in his personal finances that he showed in his ministry work.

His dedication to ministry was evident in his exceptional work ethic and accomplishments throughout his career. He mentored so many people it would be difficult to list them all here. César would have wanted to work longer but Parkinson's condition shortened his ministry.

In his later years, César found deep satisfaction and contentment in hearing the Bible being read, listening to sermons, praying, and singing hymns. Even as he lost his physical strength, he never lost his spiritual strength—Parkinson's may have affected his body, but it never touched his spirit. He never once complained about his condition, maintaining his positive outlook and grateful spirit despite his health challenges. He continued to stay connected with family and friends and enjoyed praying with others throughout these years.

Even in his final period, César's deep love for his family was evident in how much he cherished every moment with them. He did not want to leave them, as his love for his wife, children, and grandchildren was so profound that he wanted to continue being part of their lives. However, God called him home according to His perfect timing. He was surrounded by his loved ones—his wife, siblings, children, and grandchildren—who sang hymns of praise even as they shed tears of both grief and joy to send him home to be in the Lord's presence. His priorities in his last months were clear: he wanted his family to know how much he enjoyed being with them. His final message was about how important it was for the family to be faithful to one another and to God.

Rev. Dr. César Vega's legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched, the pastors he trained, and the churches he helped revitalize across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Latin America. His unwavering commitment to his faith, his family, and his calling to cross-cultural ministry serving Hispanic communities made him a beloved figure in Christian ministry. He was preceded in death by his parents, César Vega González and Dominga Zeno; his son Alexander; and his brother David. He is survived by his devoted wife Edda; daughter Elizabeth and her husband David; son Danny and his wife Carla; siblings Richard, Priscella, and Cynthia; nine grandchildren: Lydia and John David Hurtado, and Alexa, Daniel, Josie, Carly, Vera, Faith, and Zoe Vega; and one great-grandson, Rhett Alexander, born to his granddaughter Alexa and Joshua McCleery, all of whom continue to honor his memory and carry forward his legacy of faith and service.

In his memory, we say: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

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In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: The Navigators

In honor/memory of Rev. Dr. Cesar Vega or mail to:PO Box 50740 Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0740