• To provide preachers quality materials to assist them in successful sermon preparation;
• To provide exposure on a regular basis and to a wider audience sermons by great African American preachers;
• To preserve in a written form the genius of the primarily oral African American preaching tradition.

Because these three purposes met a need in the market, TAAP grew under David Albert Farmer and Kirk Byron Jones. A significant turn in the history and direction of TAAP occurred when Martha Simmons was recruited to serve as coexecutive editor of TAAP with Kirk Byron Jones. She brought to the journal a keen knowledge of African American preaching a great desire to raise its visibility in religious and scholarly circles.  Eventually, Simmons asked Frank Thomas to join her as coexecutive editor.  Under the new leadership of Simmons and Thomas, TAAP was re-designed and subscriptions rose from 900 to 2780, with a total readership of over 5,000 per quarterly issue.

The zenith of the development and growth of TAAP was the distinguished honor of the 2002 APEX Award for publication excellence. TAAP was one of only 15 publications recognized in the category "Printed Magazines and Journals." The APEX Award program recognizes publications work by professional communicators in the areas of graphic design, editorial content, and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence. Nearly 5,900 entries were considered.

After purchasing TAAP on December 27, 2003 from Judson Press (a trademark of the American Baptist Board of Education and Publication), Hope For Life International, Inc. (HFL) is now the owner. TAAP is now under the leadership of Frank Thomas (who serves as HFL CEO) and Martha Simmons (TAAP President and Publisher). In order to maintain the continuity of circulation to loyal TAAP subscribers, following the release of the Winter 2003  TAAP issue by the former owner, Hope for Life, with gifts from a select cadre of preachers, printed its first issue in Spring 2004.

Continuing their desire to provide preachers quality materials to assist them in successful sermon preparation, in 2007, the President of TAAP brought together a cadre of preachers, scholars and liturgists to begin the formation of the first African American Lectionary! The African American Lectionary is a resource tool that not only highlights the African American ecclesial traditions and moments that creatively express the joy, freedom, and the challenges of being both African American and Christian (e.g., Watch Night, African Heritage Sunday, Usher's Day, and Women's Day), but also recognizes days on the liturgical calendar that are celebrated across a variety of ecclesial traditions (e.g., Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost). By incorporating both the moments of significance across many African American ecclesial traditions, and some of the traditional moments of any lectionary cycle, The African American Online Lectionary allows users to select from a vast array of material that will exactly fit their congregation's needs and expectations.

It features all of the annual days celebrated by African American congregations. Lectionary commentaries, cultural resources and worship units are provided for each day on the calendar along with amazing videos and images. The site also provides sermon illustrations and the BIG IDEA which was developed to aid small and mid-size congregations in addressing some of the most difficult issues of our time.  The lectionary was unveiled as a free online resource in December 2007. In less than twelve months, more than 400,000 persons had visited the website. The lectionary will remain on line through at least 2013 and at some point will also be placed in book form.

In 2009,  TAAP continued to meet the needs of its readers by offering digital downloads of issues and a blog featuring its CEO, President and co-executive editors.  Ever committed to its overall mission of aiding the African American Church, TAAP continues to strive to provide quality materials, relevant information and outstanding service to its readers.