People have beaten us to the punch, you know. In my opinion, we should have gone six months before [Waco]... what we'll do will be even more spectacu… - Joseph Di Mambro

But interestingly, for the members of the group, the real charismatic personality was Jo DiMambro. Now when I look at the video recordings of Jo DiMambro's lectures, it is just disastrous. He wasn't an eloquent speaker. But when I spoke with former members, and I told them that, they were just incredulous. Jo DiMambro, they would say, he was brilliant, he was extraordinary, and so on, because those people invested him with the qualities of a cosmic master.

[Di Mambro] could have reached the end of his rope. He could be at the end in terms of health. He could be at the end in financial terms. He could be harassed by people who want money. He could be at the end on the level of the sect— there was a loss of members, loss of support, abandonment by his close relatives.

On aurait dû partir six mois avant Waco. Mais ce que nous ferons sera plus spectaculaire. (according to Bédat, Bouleau & Nicolas 1997)