1 Peter 5v8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The family of believers. Here is the reason for fellowship, to recognize that we all are suffering, we are under a constant attack, and our pain is a common denominator. The whole world can relate to some sort of suffering, and that puts all of mankind on the same page. And that is why it is so important to stand firm and speak of our faith and urge others to do the same, because the cross not only transcends all of that suffering, but defeats it. Pain can bring the world together. Christ can bring the world to life.