about #15, #16, #18: now we're getting somewhere. thanks - -this is much more in the direction i wanted to go.
#15: the graduation cap doesn't work (this isn't really about "school" - "middle school" is a term for 11 - 14 year olds; but this event is for adults who work with that age).
#16: i like the larger M and L, but i'm more intrigued by playing with the double o in school (i hadn't thought of that). maybe some eyes with a bit of attitude (a "wtf?" look, or mischievous look), or even some crossed or googly eyes. just brainstorming. but it might be interesting to work with the feel of #15 and #18, text-wise, but do something with the double-o's as eyes.
#21 -- well, it was worth a shot; but the eyes look too goofy (at least with this approach).
on your question about color pref; i'm not completely sure. i like that #20 and #22 have some vibrancy to them, but are no so bright as to be childish feeling.
would a san serif font work with this? or do we need the serifs to keep it interesting with the stacked words? this isn't my favorite font (i tend to prefer more modern fonts, particularly san serif; and i really like how san serif fonts with rounded ends can look with 3D effects).
about #25 -- yeah, that squared off san doesn't have enough variety. i'm guessing the serifs are needed, visually. but like i said in an earlier comment, i really like sans fonts with rounded ends, like "arial rounded". could we try one pass with that.
other than that, i really like this logo, and it's currently my top choice. but i don't love it; and i'm having a hard time thinking of what to ask for in terms of moving it from "like it" to "love it".
#34 -- sweet. that's a very cool emblem (see how i threw that word in there? almost sound like i know what i'm talking about). it's not actually what i was trying to describe in the PM i sent you -- this is more celtic, as opposed to the impossible 3D look of the links i sent. and, while i'm still hoping you or someone can take a swing at that idea, i really like this one.
i'm thinking the size of the emblem overwhelms the name of the event though; so let's try it with the sizes adjusted. i'm also open to the 2nd line of text being longer, which would mean it doesn't have to be so tiny.
another idea: what if the emblem has a 3D angle in one direction (like it's turning on an axis), and the text has a 3D turn in the other direction.
#33: i like this one, but i like #34 quite a bit better
after further thought -- i think the 'tribal' feel of #34 isn't going to work (i actually did a survey with my potential customers, and "tribal" was the lowest rated of 5 feel options for the marketing). "clean, modern and professional" and "fun" were the top two ratings.
so... i've shifted things around a bit. i like #33, but it doesn't pop enough yet.
i'm still hoping you can show me a different approach, like i asked for in my PM to you, with a clean and modern san serif font (probably rounded, like arial rounded), and that escher-ish impossible triangle, or a mobius strip, above, behind, or around it.
i have another idea i'd REALLY like to see developed, and i asked another designer to do it; but he hasn't even responded yet. i'd like to see the name in that arial rounded (or something similar, maybe a bit hipper), with the text all in lower case, on two lines, flush left: middle school ministry campference
then, make the "i" in middle and the "i" in ministry one longer, taller eye, with the dot above the whole thing. and, turn the dot into a simple head with this style: http://www.explodingdog.com/
add some 3D pop to the letters.
this could have the clean and modern as well as fun look i'm wanting.