CABOOSE! Ministries

Founder: Michael Guertin

What is "Caboose!"
Contact Michael Guertin about "Caboose!"
"Caboose!" Sermon Topics
About Michael Guertin

What is "Caboose!"

Elementary Truth for Adults, Teens, and Elementary Youth

Biblical & Historical Drama & Theology for the Entire Family

"CABOOSE!" is a multi-faceted ministry that conducts services for adults, teens, & children. These services may be conducted in a wide variety of ministry settings: church worship services, youth camps, retreats & kids' rallies, coffee houses, outreaches, etc. "CABOOSE!" was founded in 1991 in Reading, PA. by Michael Guertin, then a full-time children's pastor whose vision and goal was to start viable children's ministries in as many churches as God gave him the opportunity and grace to do.

"CABOOSE!" came to Michael as he pondered what to name the new children's ministry he was starting in a city famous for shopping outlets and the first billion dollar corporation in the world: Reading Railroad - of the "Monopoly" game fame. Children are always at the end of a church's "line of cars", hence, the name.

"CABOOSE!" is now based at the Guertin home, which is located just outside the heart of the city of Wilmington, Delaware's largest city. Wilmington is conveniently located in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard, about halfway between New York City and Washington, D.C. & just 1/2 hour south of Philadelphia.

"CABOOSE!" is dedicated to seeing all age groups of Jesus' Church have meaningful and intimate encounters with the presence of the living God via His Word & His Spirit in a setting geared to their age, and sometimes, "not so geared" to their age!


Often, families are "fragmented" when they attend church. The purpose of a family service would be to minister to ALL of them in such a manner that would be pertinent and interesting to all age levels. In addition, the entire family could discuss the service and the message after church.

Before Michael ministers to youth, children, or adults, he often uses his "Time Machine" and comes out of it as a biblical or historical costumed character, performing a very serious and intense drama, complete with fog, floodlights, movie music, sound effects and a strobe light. Then, in costume, he preaches and teaches with several visual aids and object lessons. His messages are relevant to his characters that he portrays. His love of theology, expository exegesis, and "prophetic" preaching (i.e., with an emphasis on the character and nature of God and man) are then evidenced as he seeks to clearly portray the truths of God's eternal word. His hope is that God's people will be "divided" in soul and spirit (Heb. 4:12) as he endeavors to "rightly divide the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15).

Another important aspect of CABOOSE! is that of Michael imparting vision, via his message "Vision for Children", to whole congregations to "stir up" and to help them embrace their responsibility to reinforce the parents' nurture of their children of the church. This message is usually followed by another visit from Michael to give to interested individuals the "nuts & bolts" of kid's ministry. This workshop may include: setting up a children's church agenda, puppetry, storytelling, building equipment, discipline, curricula, drama, recruiting and lesson reinforcement means and methods. This workshop can then be followed up by a family service conducted by Michael to demonstrate what Michael has taught and imparted to the church's workers with the young.

Michael also writes a monthly newsletter that he has been sending out since 2000. In it, he relates what the Lord has been saying to his heart, theological issues, & family/ministry event news. Click here to email and request to be added to the mailing list. Thank you!

Some of Michael's dramas & corresponding sermons

Pontius Pilate - "Judgment Day"
Barabbas - "The Depravity of Man vs The Grace of God"
Cain - "Children's Responsibility To Learn From Parents"
Esau - "Exchanging God For Worldly Things"
Samson - "Carnality & Its Consequences"
Philistine Soldier - "David's Anointing & Its Power"
John the Baptist - "Less of Self"
Joseph - "God's Sovereignty Through The Wills of Men"
Civil War Officer - "Christian Irreverence"
Roman Tribune - "Rome's Glory vs The Kingdom of God's"
William Konrad Roentgen - "God's X-Ray Room"
King Josiah - "4 Stages of Spiritual Growth For The Young"
Daniel - "The Lion's Den & Christ's Passion Paralleled"
Castlekeeper - "The 1st & 2nd Comings of Christ Compared"
Gladiator - "The Parable of the Sower"
WWII Soldier - "D-Day: God's Invasion of Man's Depravity & Man's Inability & God's Enabling/Drawing"
Temple Guard Captain - "Sovereignty: The Saints' Salve & Solace in Suffering"
Christopher Columbus - "Explore More of God via the Holy Spirit"
Adam - "The Fall of Man & Its Consequent Depravity"
Thomas Jefferson - "Authority & Inerrancy of Scripture"
Martin Luther - "The Veracity of the Word of God"

Michael Guertin & Family

After serving as children's pastor at four different churches in four different states over a period of 14 years, we felt convinced as a family that our Heavenly Father had a new phase of ministry for us. In February of 2000, we entered into full-time itinerant ministry, allowing us to become more available to a greater spectrum of Jesus' Church.

I am an ordained minister of Elim Fellowship of Lima, NY, an organization with which I have been associated since 1976. I am under the covering of Elim Fellowship as an itinerant home-missionary. I graduated from Elim Bible Institute in 1982 and received a bachelor's degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in 1983 (Religion/Philosophy). Our ministry is also recognized, endorsed, and affirmed by our local church, Immanuel Church, and its leadership here in Delaware.

The new vision and directive I received from the Lord in 2000 was to have our main thrust of ministry be one of conducting services for adults, teens, and element-ary aged-children together. This is accomplished by the use of the "Time Machine", serious dramas accompanied by movie scores, sound effects, and special effects. The drama is followed by a message illustrated by the use of several object lessons and visual aids. The word of God is then presented both in content and de-livery in such a manner that it is of interest to the different age levels. Evidenced throughout the message is my love for systematic theology and expository study and preaching. The service closes (should the Lord direct) with the entire family spending time at the altar together. This ministry seeks to assist families by avoid-ing the fragmentation that often characterizes our society and too often the Church. CABOOSE! also provides other services-youth and men's retreats, youth & children's services, rallies, camps, school assemblies & chapels, and children's workers' seminars.

I have had a strong desire and burden for years and have endeavored to practice it - that of devoting myself to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4) as much as possible. I believe, by the grace of our Lord, that prayer, fasting, and study on a regular basis in my home is the key to seeing us "make it" in this endeavor of faith. The Lord spoke to my heart in 2000 and said, "You take care of My people, and I will take care of you." And He so kindly and graciously has.

I am humbly grateful that our Heavenly Father would call, prepare, and equip us to undertake such an honorable task. Kim is my "administrator par excellence'" for both the home & the ministry. May we prove worthy of His gracious call upon our lives. May He be pleased to reveal His Son in us (Gal.1:16).

My wife Kim and I were married in 1977. We have three children: Matthew, Laura, and Caleb and reside in Wilmington, DE. We have home-schooled our three children. Matthew is a graduate of Elim Bible Institute (2001) & of Regent University (2005). He & his wife Devon wed in 2005. Matthew serves full-time in youth ministry at a church in Ohio. Laura is a graduate of Elim Bible Institute (2003) and wed Nathan Norman. Nathan serves as our own local church's youth pastor. Caleb attended Elim Bible Institute (2003-'04) as a special student for one year. Caleb resides at home while he continues his education locally at Wilmington College.

Caleb, being a gifted musician/songwriter, has performed in various & numerous places. He released a CD, "Everything I", in 2002, & a 2nd CD, "Beloved" in 2006. One type of ministry he and I do together (I am his drummer), is that of a "Caleb Guertin Band" concert, followed by worship & an illustrated message. For more information re: The Caleb Guertin Band, go to www.purevolume.com and type in his name. You can hear some of his songs and also read up on him. - Michael Guertin