He became evangelist in Lausanne and, after two dreams with alleged divine origin, decided to found a hierarchic and patriarchal community in Essertines-sur-Yverdon to help poor people, drug addicts, and convert them.
After a suspicious conviction[2] for fraud in charity,[3] the founder went to Florida.
The community was criticized by some former |members[3] and Swiss anti-cult association ASDFI whose founder, Paul Ranc, started to warn the population against the group in 1979.
Criticisms included exaggerated focus on donations (voluntary work and double tithe), psychological pressures exerted by Cravanzola, excessive control of life and difficulties to leave the community.
In Switzerland, media widely gave negative reports about the community and contributed to raise mistrust towards new religious movements,[4] but French association for the defense of religious freedom CICNS criticized this point of view.