I like #1. Could you possibly make the L a bit taller though? Right now it's looking a bit like an I.

Crests are definitely in right now. If you want to move away from that, focus on something that more clearly represents the idea of a flock, the staff-like F was completely lost on me. I love your custom text, but the logos look like they're for a trendy restaurant and not a college-aged ministry.

What about creating something based of shepherding imagery that kinda fits the bill of a crest? Like this, only more custom:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticmind/1269521880/in/set-7215760146502...

Thanks for the feedback...I tweaked the fl ligature to make the L read more clearly.

I would respectfully disagree with the "trendy restaurant" bit.

I don't think anything remotely crest-like would be a good idea. Crests are so completely played these days, especially for anything geared toward young people. It's even in Target, for crying out loud.

I really like number one. It's clean and has great character to it.

I wouldn't have gotten the shepherd's crook from the f had you not said anything I don't think, but I'm not sure it's completely necessary to be so blatant about it. I think if it were too apparent it might be distracting. As it is, I can see that you were influenced by the idea of the crook but still kept the idea from taking over.

I think I'd stay away from the circle around the text as it looks quite a bit like the food network logo.

Iterations 3 and 4 remind me too much of the citibank logotype and I don't think they have the right character for this.

One suggestion I might make for number 1 would be to thicken the crossbar of the "f" a bit. Other than that, I think you've got something really great here.

penn

Aaaah the food network logo. Maybe that's where I'm getting trendy restaurant from.

Yeah...and that's the one the client is leaning towards. The guy respects my opinion, so I might try to steer him away from that version.

The top version is really growing on me.

Love number one, but perhaps it does need another element to connect it to Christian Ministries....

I disagree about adding another element. Too many times Christian logos and identities become cluttered by people trying to cram all sorts of cross/dove/what have you imagery everywhere. Keep it simple.

penn

Ya, I think the top version is soild as is.

I am partial to the the first 2 designs.

I would prefer logo 2 if the "f" bled off the circle as the "k" does.

> Right now it’s looking a bit like an I.

#1 is very nice...beautiful letters! But your f-l combo does read like an f-i ligature, and the last thing you want people to read is fiock. Traditionally, in an f-l ligature, the f drips right into the l. I guess that takes away your crook, though... What if you just made the f taller to accommodate a fully ascending l?

I like #1 the best too. Right now it's a good logotype, but I think if you like, you could push it a little further to include a SUBTLE Christian symbol in there.
-The "f" also has a nice built-in cross already that would really pop out if seperated from the ascender and descender.
- maybe it's just a small tongue of fire floating above the "o"