About Herman

(AKA Ray Prince)

I delivered my first sermon on December 31, 1974 at University Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, from the Book of Ecclesiastes. I graduated from Tennessee Temple University in August of 1980 with a Bachelors in Biblical Studies and Psychology. I also attended one year at Temple Baptist Theological Seminary before moving back to Jacksonville to take the pastorate of Baisden Road Baptist Church in the Fall of 1981. I was ordained to ministry by University Baptist Church at that time.

After several years at Baisden Road, I took at ministry staff position at University Baptist Church where I worked in the church and taught at University Christian School from which I had graduated in 1974. In the summer of 1987 I accepted the pastorate of New Life Independent Church in Brockway, PA where we remained for two years. In the Summer of 1989 I accepted the pastorate of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Dahlonega, GA. In the Fall of 1995 I accepted the pastorate of Berea Baptist Church where I have remained since.

In 1979, I married my high school sweetheart who had just graduated from Bryan College in Dayton, TN with a degree in Mathematics/Education. In 1983, God blessed us with a daughter, Ashley; in 1986 our first son, Matthew; and in 1989 our second son, Andrew. All three of our children attended Lumpkin County Schools from most of their primary and secondary education and all three graduated from LCHS.

In February of 2005, Matthew, our first son and second born, was diagnosed with a high grade brain tumor (anaplastic ependymoma) while a freshman at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN (the full story can be found at MatthewPrince.Net). Nothing will drive a person to examine the foundations of our life to the degree brought with the terminal diagnosis of our own flesh and blood. Our faith was tested, God’s grace was received and it proved fully sufficient. My resolve to remain true to the Word was heightened and strengthened during these difficult days.

In December of 2014, I was diagnosed with stage four abdominal cancer. Following surgery it was revealed that the specific type of cancer (neuroendocrine carcinoma) was relatively slow to spread and I was advised that my “remaining time” would be measured in years, not months. The cancer was present in my pancreas, liver, and encasing my descending aorta. I began monthly injections to try to slow the spread of the cancer. The specific cancer does have a tendency to metastasize to the liver. In 2018 and again in 2020 I received targeted doses of radiation infused directly into the liver to “debulk” the tumors in the liver. The latest scan has revealed that although the tumors in the liver are reduced somewhat, the tumors have now metastasized to the spine. My oncologist has confirmed that my longevity following my initial diagnosis is already “out of the textbooks” and “beyond the charts.”

Every day, is a gift. This is always true as none of us are guaranteed the next breath. But, for me, I am further reminded that my time is not my own. It is my desire to leave a “mark” for God and his truth in whatever time remains. HermVent is a call that all of us reexamine our foundations and make certain that they rest on God’s Word rather than the traditions of men, even the long- standing traditions of Godly men.

This site is dedicated to the sound exposition of the Word of God. Its primary purpose is to “call out” those issues that have been declared as being the clear teaching of the Word of God when in fact they are better characterized as the teaching and traditions of men.

At times those considered to be the “heroes” of conservative evangelical Christianity may be the subject of Herman’s Vent. It may have been an unguarded statement given in the throes oratorical passion, excited preaching; or, it may be a position carefully thought out and well constructed in terms of a common and popular subject. BUT the simple fact is that NONE of our words, be they carelessly spoken or carefully written should ever be viewed as beyond the conscientious and critical scrutiny of other keen theological minds. Everything we say, is and must remain open to being tested by the Word of God.

My desire is to provoke a deeper level of scrutiny, thought and critical evaluation than is commonly applied. This site is not intended to be of the most value to average believer who is content to drone on in full harmony “What he feeds me, I will swallow; What he feeds me I will swallow…” Rather, this site is directed at those who are at heart Bereans, determined to receive the message with openness and grace AND THEN to ruthlessly examine any and all messages in light of sound Biblical exegesis. It is the task of the preacher to draw out of the text the sense and to lead the people into an accurate understanding and application of the Word of God. It is the task of the hearer to insure that the preacher has done his job faithfully without interjecting the opinions of man in such a manner as to put words in God’s mouth.

To this end my heart cry is soli Deo gloria…